Gordon Elliott has been on a rebuild mission for the last year or so and he now sees himself in a much better position than he was last year and retaining some nice horses and gaining some potentially smart younger horses, he could have a huge season.
Here is his stable tour for the 2022/23 season.
5yo Bay Gelding
A horse that is not known too many is Demandrivingdouvan who off the back of his PTP win could be an exceptional talent for the yard. A son of Walk In The Park the five year old was a 11 length winner at Borris House in March 2022 and was then bought by Buttonwood Farm and given to Elliott. Only seen once in a bumper to date back in May, he was a decent second over two miles and he looks to be a horse that might want much further in time.
8yo Bay Mare
Mount Ida is a very useful mare, but she is prone to the odd mistake, and prefers a right handed track - so she’s not without her quirks! She unseated in both the English and Irish Grand National and she may be campaigned in a similar way again this season, with valuable staying handicap chases on the agenda.
4yo Chestnut Gelding
Pied Piper, formerly of John Gosden’s on the flat, moved to Gordon Elliot for a NH career - and so far we’ve not looked back. He won on debut from superstar Vauban, then he absolutely bolted up in a G2 at Cheltenham, by 9 lengths. For the rest of the season, he did then play second fiddle to Vauban and Fil D’or, but he’s still a young and exciting horse.
8yo Bay Gelding
Conflated had a cracking season last year, he won his first G1 and continued to run well throughout the remainder of the season. Conflated is a very useful G1 horse and connections will look to add to his tally.
8yo Bay Gelding
Galvin is a horse on the up, he won two from five last season including the G1 Savills Chase from Gold Cup winner A Plus Tard. He’s ran to a massive level already, and he’s surely strengthened over the summer - he’s a huge player in the staying chase division once again.
5yo Bay Gelding
Mighty Potter is a young horse still riddled with potential. He won two G1’s last year and he will likely be tough to handle this season too, with his family often improving for age.
5yo Chesnut Gelding
Zanahiyr often finds one or two too good. He ran into Sharjah and Honeysuckle on two occasions and couldn’t beat them. He tried 2m4 at Aintree, but he failed to jump convincingly at all. He will need to improve should he be troubling these mainstays in the 2m hurdle division.
5yo Grey Mare
Riviere D’etel had a cracking season all things considered. She managed to win three on the bounce, including a G2 and G3 win, but she was beaten at all attempts in G1 company. She is a lovely genuine horse who will make for tough competition again this season. Will her aim be the mares chase?
7yo Bay Gelding
Frontal Assault was a good solid handicapper last year, who finished in the frame on three occasions. He’s going to be one for handicaps again last year, and he’ll be off a very winnable mark.
4yo Grey Gelding
Fil Dor started off the season in great style, winning three on the bounce, before he ran into Vauban. Vauban beat him in his next three starts, and as Vauban looks a likely superstar, that’s not the worst thing in the world. He will be a huge player in all the top races this season, Fil Dor is certainly one to keep a close eye on.
6yo Bay Mare
Party Central had a cracking time of things last season. She won three out of six, and she took two listed races along with a Grade B handicap. She will be looking to get some graded wins in the bag, and she could well do so if placed wisely.
8yo Bay Gelding
Fury Road won a G1 Novice Chase over Christmas last year at Leopardstown in good style, but he failed to win again afterwards. That said, he did run well to place in two more G1 events, but he may just be short of G1 level on the hole.
8yo Chestnut Gelding
Run Wild Fred had a good season last season, but he only managed to win the once. His best efforts came when second in a G1, and G2 at Leopardstown and Cheltenham respectively. He will likely take high rank in all the staying chases this season, with plenty of experience under his belt.
6yo Brown Gelding
Three Stripe Life is a solid, steadily improving horse for trainer Gordon Elliot. He won the Betway Mersey Novices’ Hurdle (G1) at the Aintree festival. He’d danced every dance prior to that and fully deserved his G1 success. He’s an exciting horse moving forward this season.
5yo Bay Gelding
Teahupoo looked a horse on the up for the majority of last season, winning three on the bounce, twice in G3 company along with a G2. He was well beaten (last) in both his spring targets (Champion Hurdle, Irish Champion Hurdle). He is possibly just short of G1 level, but he's a smart horse nonetheless.
6yo Bay Gelding
Hollow Games won four of eight last year, including a Grade 3 novice at Navan. He then ran well throughout the remainder of the season, as highlighted when placing in the G1 Nathaniel Lacy behind Minella Cocooner a Leopardstown. He could be one for novice chasing this year, as he's a fine stamp of a horse. He's one to look forward too.
6yo Bay Gelding
Minella Crooner, not to be confused with Willie's Minella Cocooner, finished his season with just the two wins in moderate company. It was his placed efforts that make for the best reading. He was second to Minella Cocooner in the G1 Nathaniel Lacy hurdle at Leopardstown, before a disappointing effort on his final start at Punchestown. Despite that poor effort, he remains of interest this year.Farouk D’alene
7yo Bay Gelding
Fils D'oudairies is a horse on the up, as proven when finishing a cracking second to the useful Langer Dan in a Grade 3 handicap hurdle at Aintree last season. He's been relatively busy over the summer, and he finished second last time out in September to a useful enough horse at Listowel. Handicap hurdles will likely be his bag again and he could be a huge player in the spring.
5yo Bay Gelding
American Mike looked a potential superstar early on last season, but towards the end of his campaign he had to race against Facile Vega, who looks a world beater. He will be going novice hurdling this season and he’s going to be hugely exciting moving forward in what’s likely going to be a discipline that suits.
6yo Chestnut Gelding
Chemical Energy ran well over hurdles last year, picking up a few maiden hurdles and novice hurdles as well. He made his chasing debut in April, before a summer on his back. He returned a few weeks ago at Listowel in a novice chase and won with relative ease. He could be a nice one for novice chases' this year.
6yo Bay Gelding
Ash Tree Meadow has been a busy horse, he ran well last season in novices', before winning three on the bounce this summer in the Novice/Handicap chase division. He's always looked a nice horse, and on the evidence we have, chasing will be his bag. He's an exciting horse this year.
