Down Royal prepares for National Hunt curtain raiser with Champion Chase

That's why The Ladbrokes Festival of Racing has taken on even greater importance this year as the racecourse and its staff welcome the very best of National Hunt racing, the ITV Racing cameras, but with regret, no paying spectators.

In a usual year, Down Royal could have expected up to 10,000 people to pass through the turnstiles over the course of two days, in return witnessing a constant stream of high-class racing which is highlighted by the Grade One Ladbrokes Champion Chase on Saturday afternoon.

A race won by the great Kauto Star twice in 2008 and 2010, its roll of honour is impressive, and this year seems likely to see Gordon Elliott take the prize back to County Meath for a fourth time in eight years.

With Friday's Grade Two WKD Hurdle growing in stature every year and now worth €35,400 to the winner, it is no surprise that Elliott is pointing his Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle runner-up, Abacadabras, at the race, and Down Royal chief executive Emma Meehan is looking forward to the weekend with excitement, but also with a tinge of sadness that such high-class sport will be played out in front empty stands.

She told Sporting Life: "This meeting - along with our Summer Festival - is the culmination of the year's efforts and we are so proud to host what has become the curtain raiser for the jumps season. Over two days, we are going to see the best chasers, hurdlers and bumper horses in action, taking their first steps in the new season.

"It is tremendously exciting for everyone connected with the racecourse, but of course, it is so sad that we won't be able to open the doors to the public this year. We will be seeing the very best of National Hunt racing this week - the great and good are all going to be there - and it's such a shame that the public won't be able to come in to enjoy the action.

"From an atmospheric point of view, we all know what big, enthusiastic crowds can add to live sport and from a commercial point of view, the loss of revenue is huge. At the moment the media rights are holding us up but the costs of running a racecourse are still there, the running expenses still vast, and it's been a struggle for racecourses all across Britain and Ireland.

"That said, we are just delighted to be racing again, delighted to be able to host fixtures again, and we are so looking forward to what the next few days have in store."

It shouldn't be underestimated the immense strain racecourses - like so many other businesses - are under in the current climate and Meehan is grateful, in particular, for the continued support from sponsors such as Ladbrokes and WKD.

Meehan admits to having had no expectations of Down Royal's sponsors when the Covid-19 pandemic hit, reaffirming her gratitude to Ladbrokes for honouring their three-year sponsorship of Saturday's feature race and WKD for their continued support of Friday's Grade Two hurdle.

Meehan went on: "We are delighted Ladbrokes will be sponsoring the race again. We didn't assume anything of anyone but it's a big relief and is something we are very grateful for. It was the same with Joe Sloan of WKD: He was adamant that he would continue normal levels of support to the racecourse and said he felt duty-bound to do so. For that, we are deeply grateful."

When the obvious stresses and strains of the past months can be forgotten for just a short while, it is apparent that Meehan and her staff are desperate to get back racing, particularly with a meeting of such stature that ITV Racing will be bringing their cameras to Northern Ireland.

The Ladbrokes Champion Chase has attracted a typically strong entry, with Gordon Elliott expected to field former RSA hero Presenting Percy, who will be making his first start for the stable on Saturday. Should he win, he will be adding his name to an impressive list of past winners that twice includes the great Kauto Star.

"We're a little disappointed that Paul Nicholls isn't able to run Cyrname. It would have been fantastic to see him come over but with the restrictions as they are currently, it's perfectly understandable, for all it is unfortunate.

"Nevertheless, it is shaping up to be a tremendous race again with Gordon Elliott and Noel Meade both expected to have runners in a race they have dominated in recent years.

"We are thrilled with the entries across the two days, with all the big names looking like being represented, and it's really pleasing to see the meeting get such support. Having ITV Racing come over will be really special and we will have a Tracking Camera for Saturday's racing which will bring the viewers even closer to the action. It's all very exciting."

And when the dust settles on another curtain raiser? What next for Down Royal Racecourse as they, like so many others, try to move forward despite the ever-present gloom of Covid-19?

Meehan added: "My main goal is for the safety of the horse this weekend. That's what we want and if we have that on Saturday, we'll have done our job.

"Long term, I just hope we can continue racing - we need to keep racing and we've shown across Ireland over the past few months that we can make it work. Post-Covid? We don't know what that will look like but it's my vision to increase the number of fixtures at Down Royal. We still have a few holes in our calendar and I'm keen for us to host more racing.

"My aim for 2022 would be to see the WKD Hurdle given Grade One status. We tried this year and are running for Grade One money now. I think when you look at the level of horses we have had running in and winning the race over the last few years - Melon in 2017 and Coeur Sublime in 2019 - there's a strong case there.

"The consistent quality of the race means it definitely merits consideration so fingers crossed we can make it happen."

In the meantime, all eyes will be on another Down Royal Grade One, one that on Saturday afternoon might just be the launchpad for another Cheltenham Gold Cup campaign.