Where stars are born: will we see another Envoi Allen or Samcro at Down Royal?

It is never too early to look for Cheltenham Festival clues and at no meeting is that clearer than this week's Down Royal fixture. Over the last ten years 123 horses have run at both meetings, with ten Cheltenham champions featuring over the two-day Down Royal meeting – and a further 29 horses finishing in the first three come March. Here are the races to focus on.

Advanced NI Scaffolding Beginners Chase
3.00 Friday, 2m3½f (RTV)

No race over the two days has been as informative, historically, as the 2m4f beginners' chase on Friday, with 2010 winner Bostons Angel going on to land the RSA Chase and 2012 and 2019 scorers Benefficient and Samcro lifting what is now the Marsh Novices' Chase. The 2018 winner Delta Work was just touched off by Topofthegame and Santini in a thrilling finish to that season's RSA.

With the likes of Envoi Allen and Easywork among the 13 entries this year there is every chance that record will be enhanced.

Samcro: Marsh Novices' Chase winner begun his chasing career at Down RoyalCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

WKD Hurdle
1.50 Friday, 2m½f (RTV)

The WKD Hurdle is a stepping stone to the Champion Hurdle, as Jezki proved when doing the double in 2013-14, while Melon came within a neck of doing the same in 2017-18. The Gordon Elliott team will be hoping Abacadabras is from a similar mould this year.

However, it is not just a race to make note of the winner and write the rest off as not good enough. Apple's Jade was beaten in the 2016 edition before going on to land the David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle, while Wicklow Brave was fifth in 2014 en route to winning the County Hurdle by a whopping eight lengths.

Ladbrokes Champion Steeplechase
2.25 Saturday, 3m (ITV4)

Up next, perhaps unsurprisingly, is the feature event of Down Royal's two days. It is the race Kauto Star used to return in and, as such, it is no surprise it has pedigree as a stepping stone to the Cheltenham Gold Cup. In 2015-16 Don Cossack did the double, while 2014 winner Road To Riches was third in that season's showpiece event at the festival and Road To Respect, winner for the last two years, filled the same position in the Ryanair Chase in 2019.

More surprisingly, it has also thrown up a Queen Mother Champion Chase winner with Sizing Europe chasing home Kauto Star in 2010 before dropping back in trip to run away with the Champion Chase. This year's renewal looks much more to type with the likes of Delta Work, Presenting Percy and Chris's Dream – all of whom ran in the Gold Cup last year.

Kauto Star: won the Down Royal feature en route to Gold Cup successCredit: Edward Whitaker

Tayto Group Maiden Hurdle
1.15 Saturday, 2m½f (RTV)

The maiden hurdle on Saturday was used last year by Envoi Allen to kick off a dominant season that culminated in a brilliant victory in the Ballymore, so it is of particular interest that Gordon Elliott and Cheveley Park have an 18-length Downpatrick bumper winner and Supreme and Ballymore fancy Ballyadam among the 47 entries in this year's renewal.

WKD Handicap Hurdle
1.50 Saturday, 2m½f (RTV)

You know a meeting has real strength in depth when the maidens and handicaps are worth watching for festival clues, and the Grade B handicap hurdle is another race worth keeping an eye on. In 2015 Diamond King was fourth in this before romping home in the Coral Cup and it is exactly the sort of race in which one can run down the field and go helpfully unnoticed.

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