Battleoverdoyen to lead Elliott's assault on Leopardstown Grade 1s

The unbeaten Battleoverdoyen, a best-priced 6-1 second favourite for the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham, will head Gordon Elliott's Grade 1 team heading for the opening day of Leopardstown's Dublin Racing Festival on Saturday.

The six-year-old made it four from four when taking a first top-level prize at Naas earlier this month and will be stepping up two furlongs in trip for the 2m6f Nathaniel Lacy & Partners Solicitors Novice Hurdle.

Elliott said of the general 7-4 chance: "Battleoverdoyen is in good form and the plan is to run him, Defi Bleu and Commander Of Fleet in Saturday's race."

Mengli Khan, who was a ten-length winner on his debut over fences at Punchestown, could finish only fourth behind Le Richebourg at this track in the Grade 1 Racing Post Novice Chase at Christmas. The pair renew rivalry in the Frank Ward Solicitors Arkle Novice Chase with Elliott's charge as big as 10-1 to turn the tables.

Duca De Thaix, the winner of handicaps at Fairyhouse on his last two starts, will be tackling Grade 1 company for the first time.

He added: "We're looking at running Mengli Khan and Duca De Thaix in the Arkle Novice Chase while Hardline, who is [entered] in that Grade 1, will probably wait for the Flogas Novice Chase on Sunday."

Elliott confirmed that Farclas, winner of the Triumph Hurdle at last year's Cheltenham Festival, will join Apple's Jade in the line-up for the Irish Champion Hurdle on Saturday.

"Farclas will run but Tombstone, who is still in the race, is unlikely to run. We'll probably give him the weekend off, "Elliott said.

Declarations for day one of the Dublin Racing Festival on Saturday will revert to a 24-hour declaration stage, with runners declaring on Friday, February 1 at 10am instead of the planned 48 hour final declaration stage on Thursday.

This is a precautionary measure to allow flexibility in adjusting the race order if necessary, allowing an extra 24 hours to review updated weather forecasts.

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