Johnny Ward's Irish racing tips: Friday bets at Down Royal and Dundalk

It is not yet November, but Down Royal's showcase two-day meeting, the feature being Saturday's BetVictor Remembering Envoi Allen Champion Chase, to many signifies the return of the National Hunt campaign proper.We've also got the Breeders' Cup on Saturday, too – such that Saturday's feast, commencing at 1pm, feels like perhaps the best day's racing all year, in terms of longevity and interest. Both meetings will also be live on Racing TV, and Racing TV Extra.Friday's appetizer at Down Royal, as tends to be the case, is far more alluring than the average meeting, too. And don't forget Dundalk and The Friday Club later on Racing TV – truly a weekend where one feels lucky to love racing!

This much-hyped sophomore was definitely lucky to win at Gowran Park last time out, but he deserves to be a bit shorter than 9-2 here. 

This is a track that favours pacey horses, and he gives a mere 3lb to a four-year-old filly in Mange Tout who, by comparison, looks far too short.

Caravaggio was not designed to make steeplechasers, but his only representative so far is Claude, who was very good when winning at Cork last time out. 

That was a strong effort in beating an odds-on favourite, and he found loads for pressure. He has a nice profile for this, too, and appeals each-way at 17-2.

This three-year-old has not run at Dundalk since his maiden win in March, after which he got a rating of 87, and he has generally run to his mark since. 

He returns to the all-weather dropped 6lb and, with Reese Holohan claiming five, he must be of interest at 9-2, in my opinion.