Eskylane

Eskylane was impressive in winning the two-mile-one-furlong handicap hurdle at Down Royal last Saturday. Settled in mid-division early on by Jack Kennedy and racing wide, he travelled and jumped well, and he moved up into fifth place just behind the leaders after the fourth last flight. There were plenty there with chances over the third last, but Eskylane travelled really well to that point. He moved up on the outside of Light Brigade on the run to the second last, jumped to the front over that obstacle, and picked up well from there. He jumped the last well, ears pricked, and he cleared away impressively on the run-in.

Fifth in the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham in 2020, Gordon Elliott’s horse looked like a horse with a future when he won his maiden hurdle at Punchestown on his seasonal return last year. He didn’t win again last season, but he shaped encouragingly on his debut this term in a good handicap hurdle at Listowel in September. This was a good step forward from that, and there is every chance that he can go forward again. The handicapper raised him by 10lb for his Down Royal win to a mark of 144, but he has raced just seven times over hurdles, and he has the potential to go beyond that mark now.
Down Royal, 30^th October 2021