Down Royal and Dundalk horse racing betting tips for…

Down Royal and Dundalk horse racing betting tips for Friday

A smooth winner on his seasonal debut at Cheltenham two weeks ago, Pied Piper should follow-up for Gordon Elliott and Jack Kennedy in the Grade 2 WKD Hurdle on the opening day of Down Royal’s two-day November meeting.

Elliott has declared both Pied Piper and Fil Dor for today’s feature. But it will come as no surprise if only one of the 147-rated four-year-olds runs.

Pied Piper is following the ‘Champion Hurdle route’ and could hardly have been more impressive in his recent comeback run at Cheltenham.

In contrast, Fil Dor, who finished in front of Pied Piper when chasing home Vauban in the Triumph Hurdle (he filled the runner- up berth behind the Closutton juvenile three times last season) and is reportedly set to go chasing in the coming weeks.

If they both turn-up, Pied Piper’s fitness edge might prove crucial. Narrowly beaten by Vauban on his hurdling bow, he dead-heated with Knights Salute in the Grade 1 at Aintree before being controversially disqualified.

Chief supporting race is the Grade 3 Irish EBF Featherd Lady Mares Novice Hurdle, for which Willie Mullins will saddle four of the 11 runners.

But Noel Meade’s The Model Kingdom, winner of three bumpers, gets a hesitant vote to follow-up her hurdle debut success, at 1/6, in Tipperary early last month.

This mare’s bumper performances included listed and Grade 3 wins at Navan and Punchestown respectively.

Meanwhile, back at the scene of an impressive listed success back in March, Juncture sets the standard in tonight’s Cooley Stakes in Dundalk.

Trained by Ger Lyons and the mount of Colin Keane, who clinched his fourth Jockeys Championship at this venue on Wednesday, Juncture was tried in the Qipco 1,000 Guineas following her six lengths defeat of Morning Soldier here in the spring.

And, although she failed to triumph on turf this summer, she produced a number of solid performances, including a second to the solid yardstick Boundless Ocean in the ‘Desmond’ (Group 3) at Leopardstown and, last time, a third to Viareggio in the ‘Snow Fairy’ (Group 3) at the Curragh.

This grey Juddmonte filly floated on the polytrack in the ‘Patton’ and, if she acts as well on the surface this time, the Glenburnie filly might prove too strong for Kevin Prendergast’s lightly-raced Mehnah.

Peter O’Hehir's tips for Down Royal

12.20.American Mike

12.55.Rebellious Gale

1.30.The Model Kingdom

2.05.Pied Piper

2.40.Now Where Or When

3.15.Mighty Potter

3.50.Better Days Ahead

Next Best

12.20.Letsbeclearaboutit

12.55.Walking The Walk

1.30.Nikini