Gordon Elliott is set to send a strong team to the Cheltenham festival having missed the four day meeting last year and we have gone through his best chances across the week.
Having been battling it out with with Willie Mullins all season and holding is own, he will be looking to land some nice winners once again at a track he has fond memories at.
Check out all his big chances here.
5yo bay gelding
Form: 11
Target: Champion Bumper
Cost £195,000 after winning a point by 20 lengths and shot straight to the top of Champion Bumper ante-post betting when making a striking Rules debut at Down Royal. Followed up in similarly convincing fashion in a Listed event at Navan on his next start, cementing his position as the standard-setter in the division. Looks a thoroughly exciting prospect and he should go well.
8yo bay gelding
Form: 14-U211
Target: Gold Cup/Ryanair
A few notches below the top novice chasers last season, a Naas Grade 3 during Cheltenham week the highlight of his campaign. Won a Navan handicap off 145 in impressive fashion in December and caused a further upset to win an unorthodox running of the Irish Gold Cup last time. Remains to be seen whether he can back that up, but if so, he’s a genuine Grade 1 horse, with connections having the option to go further up in trip for the Gold Cup, or to drop back in trip for the Ryanair.
4yo grey gelding
Form: 2-111
Target: Triumph Hurdle
Beaten by Vauban in the Spring Juvenile at Dublin Racing Festival but had been near flawless for Gordon Elliott before that, winning at Down Royal and Fairyhouse in the Autumn before producing a very polished display to take the Grade 2 Knight Frank at Leopardstown over Christmas, only having to be pushed out under hands-and-heels to record a 7-length success. Looks a staying type at the trip and connections also have Pied Piper, but Elliot has made no secret his opinion that Fil Dor is the pick of the pair in terms of his work at home.
8yo bay gelding
Form: 111-121
Target: Gold Cup
Looked an ideal future Grand National candidate when winning the National Hunt Chase over 3m6f at this meeting last season, but has found even further progress this season to develop into a bona-fide top-class chaser. Having returned with a Grade 3 victory at Punchestown, Galvin pushed Frodon close in Down Royal’s Champion Chase and then took another step forward in claiming A Plus Tard’s in the Savills Chase. Already now amongst the best chasers in training, he stays forever and is on a clear upward curve; a must for any Gold Cup shortlist
6yo bay gelding
Form: 11-11
Target: Albert Bartlett
Successful pointer who has remained unbeaten in four starts under Rules, winning a pair of bumpers last season before making a smooth transition to hurdling, most recently going away at the finish when winning a Thurles novice over 2m7f. Doesn’t look short of speed for a horse who clearly stays well and merits his place amongst the favourites for the Albert Bartlett.
6yo bay gelding
Form: 21-111
Target: Ballymore/Albert Bartlett
Cost €470k after winning his point and has made a fine start over hurdles, looking a thorough stayer when taking the Grade 2 Navan Novice Hurdle in December, before making the successful step into Grade 1 company when winning the Lawlor’s Of Naas the following month. Though all of his wins have come over 2m4f, a similar trip to the Ballymore, his run style suggests he’d be equally at home over 3m, the distance of the Albert Bartlett. He’d have a leading chance in either race.
6yo bay gelding
Form: 11-1133
Target: Albert Bartlett
Went for more than £250,000 after winning his point and looked a smart prospect in winning two early season bumpers last season, before making it four from four on his first two starts over hurdles this winter. Had excuses when third in the Lawlor’s Of Naas, his first foray into Grade 1 company, in January, but perhaps less so when only able to fill the same position in the Nathaniel Lacy the following month. Undoubtedly talented, but suspicion is now that he may fall just a notch below the top novice hurdlers around.
6yo bay gelding
Form: 11212
Target: Albert Bartlett
Won two bumpers in the early months of the season before bumping into Ballymore hope Journey With Me on his hurdles debut. Looked like one who would appreciate three miles and made no mistake with a really professional performance when getting off the mark over hurdles on his first try over that trip, before progressing again to finish second in the Grade 1 Nathaniel Lacy at the Dublin Racing Festival, again doing his best work at the finish. The Albert Bartlett should play to his strengths and he’s a leading contender.
5yo bay gelding
Form: 1-131
Target: Supreme/Ballymore
Won his only bumper start last season and went off long odds-on when making a winning hurdling debut at Down Royal before running an eyecatching third in the Royal Bond on only his third lifetime start. Still looked a horse that was learning on the job when winning the Grade 1 Future Champions at Leopardstown over Christmas, and Gordon Elliott now has a dilemma as to whether run Mighty Potter in the Supreme or to step him up in trip to the likelier calmer waters of the Ballymore.
5yo grey mare
Form: 7-11122
Target: Arkle/Mares Chase
Made a fine start to her chasing career this season, winning Graded events at Punchestown and Navan before Christmas. Very much bumped into a top prospect when only a length and a half behind Ferny Hollow in late December and looked unlucky not to be beat Blue Lord in the Irish Arkle last time. Allowance against that rival will be 2lb smaller come March should they opt for the rematch, but she will stay 2m4f, so also has the option of the Mares Chase if connections wish to run her there.
8yo chestnut gelding
Form: 222-212
Target: NH Chase
Failed to win in his first season as a novice chaser last year, but proved he was a smart stayer with second placed efforts in both the Thyestes and the Irish Grand National. Retained his novice status into this season and finally got off the mark in a valuable handicap when routing the Troytown field at Navan in November. Runner-up to Fury Road in Grade 1 company over Christmas and the extra distance the NH Chase provides already plays to his strengths. He’s a leading contender.
4yo chestnut gelding
Form: 11
Target: Triumph Hurdle
A useful type when owned by the Queen and trained by the Gosdens on the flat, he already looks an improved performer as a hurdler, seeing off the highly-touted Mullins hotpot Vauban on his hurdling debut before producing this division’s most striking performance in Cheltenham’s Triumph Trial in January, sauntering away from his rivals hard held on the bridle to win by 9 lengths. Justifiably now Triumph favourite after that victory and on form so far, looks the one to beat.
10yo bay gelding
Form: 132-2P4
Target: Stayers/Pertemps
Boasts a fine Cheltenham record, having placed in the Martin Pipe in 2018 before winning back-to-back renewals of the Pertemps Final in 2019 and 2020, the latter of which came carrying top-weight. Stepped into Grade 1 company last season , only finding Flooring Porter too good in the Stayers’ Hurdle. Yet to be quite at his best this campaign, and he also has the option of returning to handicap company for another tilt at the Pertemps after finishing fourth in a Warwick qualifier.
5yo bay gelding
Form: 1112-11
Target: Champion Hurdle
Smart in juveniles last season and has progressed further this season, having claimed the scalp of last season’s Triumph Hurdle winner Quilixios in two occasions this campaign, most recently when rallying in the shadows of the post to overhaul his rival in the Limerick Hurdle over Christmas. Deservedly now enters each-way calculations for the Champion Hurdle but needs to find even more to be anything other than a fringe player.
12yo bay gelding
Form: 614-P0
Target: Cross Country
Two-time Grand National winner and modern Festival legend, already with five Cheltenham victories to his name, including three Cross Country Chases. Firmly into the veteran stage of his career now (his first Festival win came in the Triumph, aged 4) and his runs this season have been nothing more than ticking his fitness over, but he was exceptional in this race last season and he’s always been a horse to defy any sort of logic; there’d likely be no more popular Festival winner if he were to add an outstanding sixth trophy to the cabinet.
5yo chestnut gelding
Form: 24-1222
Target: Champion Hurdle
Beaten favourite in the Triumph last season but had looked a thoroughly exciting juvenile prior, winning Graded events at Fairyhouse and Leopardstown. Improved again this season, holding his own in open Grade 1 company, finishing runner-up in both the Morgiana, the Matheson and the Irish Champion Hurdle. Nothing he’s shown so far would see him get close to Honeysuckle, but he’s a definite contender to fill the placings behind her.
