One Trainer, Jockey And Horse To Follow Across ITV Racing On Friday

James Mackie | @jamesmackieee

Down Royal - November 04 2022
Down Royal 14:05
1

Fil Dor

J:
T: Gordon Elliott
N/A
Age: 4
Weight: 11-10
OR: 147
Days: 188

The feature race of the afternoon at Down Royal is the Grade Two WKD Hurdle and although a poor renewal of the race, the top two in the market are exceptional talents and extremely hard to split.

We are giving the nod to Fil Dor from a price perspective, although Pied Piper has the fitness angle, we think Fil Dor is worth backing at odds against.

A superb talent for Gordon Elliott last term starting at this meeting having joined from France and he went on to bolt up by 16 lengths, from Listed winner Sea Sessions.

Making it back to back wins in a Grade Three at Fairyhouse when showing grit, he made it a hat-trick of wins at Christmas at Leopardstown when beating the same horse by a wider margin, giving weight away.

From there he has raced three more times in Grade One company and has bumped into the superb Vauban and has chased him home on all three occasions.

Starting in the Spring Juvenile Hurdle at the DRF, he was then second again in the Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham festival and then again at the Punchestown festival.

It is a coin toss between Fil Dor and Pied Piper but we are siding with the French exploit on price.

DateCourseDistanceTypeWeightPosition
10/04/23FAI20Y/Sft11-86
15/03/23CHL21Sft11-919
18/02/23GOW16Sft/Hy11-101
04/02/23LEO17Y11-105
26/12/22LEO17Y11-63

Trainer To Follow - Joe Tizzard - Exeter

Joe Tizzard has started his debut season as a trainer in fine fashion currently running at a strike rate of 30% for the last two weeks with eight winners from his last 27 runners.

He sends a good team to Exeter on Friday, especially in the ITV races with Shirocco's Dream a big player in the Mares' Handicap Hurdle.

In the Stayers' Handicap Chase over three miles Killer Kane off a mark of 130 is a huge player having shown big form in much better races last term.

Finally, War Lord is looking to land the Haldon Gold Cup on seasonal debut and if running to the level of his fourth in the Arkle and second in the Manifesto Novices' Chase, he should go close.

Jockey To Follow - Harry Cobden - Exeter

Harry Cobden and Paul Nicholls have been in scintillating form at the start of the 22/23 season and Cobden on Friday at Exeter has some nice rides, especially those live on terrestrial TV.

Codben's first ride on ITV comes in the Silver Bowl Novices' Chase where Flash Collonges has the benefit of a run on the field and could out run his odds.

His second ride comes on last year's winner of the Haldon Gold Cup Greaneteen who's Grade One record speaks for himself and although giving weight away could run a big race.

In other races at Exeter on the card, Cobden could take the first two races with Outlaw Peter a good second in the Persian War when last seen and then in the next Lallygag was a facile winner over C&D on seasonal debut and should go close again.