CHAMPION jockey Davy Russell and Galway Plate-winning rider Mark Enright fly to America on Wednesday to take up engagements on two Gordon Elliott-trained horses in the Grade 1 $175,000 New York Writers’ Handicap Hurdle at Saratoga on Thursday.

Russell rides top weight Clarcam, who Enright piloted to a 33/1 victory in the Plate, while Enright switches to The Game Changer, who unseated Andrew Ring in that race, having been pulled up by Russell in the Galway Hurdle three days previously.

Notably, the two horses are under new American ownership since their last runs in the colours of Michael O’Leary’s Gigginstown House Stud. Clarcam now is owned by Rosbrian Farm and Wendy and Ben Griswold, while The Game Changer is owned solely by the Rosbrian operation of Mandy and George Mahoney.

In recent years Elliott, Willie Mullins and more recently Joseph O’Brien have sent horses Stateside in pursuit of a slice of the significant prize money on offer on the jumps circuit there.

Last year, the Meath handler, who has already in America to oversee his charges’ final preparations, won the Foxbrook Champion Novice Hurdle with the Danny Mullins-ridden Zanjabeel, now the leading money-winner in the US this season under the tutelage of Ricky Hendriks. Zanjabeel is owned by Clarcam's new owners, Rosbrian and the Griswolds.

This is Russell’s second ride in America, having been sixth on Katnap for Joseph O’Brien in the American Grand National won by Danny Mullins on the American-trained Mr Hot Stuff last October, but that was at Far Hills in New Jersey so he’ll be competing at Saratoga in upstate New York for the first time.

This may be more of a fact-finding process for the Elliott horses ahead of a stab at the National and a likely stay in the US, though with only nine runners, their new owners will be looking for an immediate return on their investment.

“Saratoga is a different course to Far Hills, says Russell. “It’s a tighter, left-hand track, level – a bit like Ballinrobe maybe. The prize money is the attraction really but you’re trying to work out the type of horse that you need for these races.

“The worry for Clarcam is it’s 2m 3f around that tight track but they’re aiming him towards Far Hills and we’ll know more after this. I’ve seen plenty of videos of the racing from Saratoga on the internet so it should be okay.”

Regardless of the result, Russell and Enright will be back in Ireland for racing on Friday.

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