(Image by: gordon.elliottracing)
As we continue our tour of the leading British and Irish yards, our next stop takes us to the County Meath base of Gordon Elliott.
Boasting 40 wins at the Cheltenham Festival, Elliott won the Grand National with his first-ever entry, Silver Birch, in 2007 and memorably added to his haul in the Aintree showpiece with the legendary Tiger Roll (2018, 2019).
Regularly the trainer who gives Willie Mullins the most to think about in the race to become Irish Champion trainer, Eliott enjoyed a productive 2023/24 campaign, with a dozen wins in Grade 1 company, including a top-level double at the Cheltenham Festival.
Presiding over a huge 196 squad, it seems sure that further success awaits in 2024/25. Here, we look at the established stars in the yard and reveal the Elliott-trained runners who now reside in our horse tracker for the coming campaign.
Stable Stars
Gerri Colombe
Elliott does well with his staying chasers, and this eight-year-old son of Saddler Maker will have the season’s major 3m contests in his sights. A Point-to-Point winner in 2020, Gerri Colombe was a perfect two-from-two in Bumpers and over hurdles but always looked like a chaser in the making.
Now entering his third season over fences, his record stands at nine starts, six wins, and three runners-up finishers. Highlights include Grade 1 victories in the Ladbrokes Champion Chase and Aintree Bowl. Barring an unlucky second in the 2023 edition of the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase, the only horse to beat him over fences is the reigning Cheltenham Gold Cup king, Galopin Des Champs. Set to return in the Ladbrokes Champion Chase at Down Royal, all roads lead to the feature event at Prestbury Park in March.
Teahupoo
Following his near miss in the 2023 edition of the Stayers Hurdle, Teahupoo was flawless in 2023/24 – winning the Hatton’s Grace Hurdle, Stayers Hurdle and Champion Stayers Hurdle at Punchestown. Best fresh, those three contests may be his sole outings again this term, and unless a new star emerges, he will take some stopping.
Found A Fifty
Making minimal appeal on pedigree and showing only glimpses of promise over hurdles in 2022/23, Found A Fifty made huge strides in his debut season over the larger obstacles. Lining up in Grade 1 company on five occasions, he ended the season with form figures of 21221 in the biggest 2m Novice Chase events. Stepping into open company will demand more, but this seven-year-old may be up to the task.
Brighterdaysahead
Elliott is never afraid to highlight a horse he expects to reach the top and has been effusive in his praise of this Kapgarde mare from Day 1. Her record stands at seven wins from eight starts, including a 7½l romp in the Grade 1 Mersey Novices’ Hurdle at the Aintree Festival. The one blemish on her record came when second to Golden Ace in the Ryanair Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham.
The five-year-old will stick to the smaller obstacles this year, and she looked as well as ever when claiming the Grade 3 Bottlegreen Hurdle on her seasonal return. The Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle is the logical long-term target.
Firefox
Given his size and jumping ability, this Walk In The Park gelding looks a natural addition to the Novice Chase team. Considering his physique, he performed admirably over the smaller obstacles last season. Whilst only winning in Maiden company, he ran a cracker to finish third in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle before finishing a close second in the Top Novices’ Hurdle and KPMG Champion Novice Hurdle. Returning with an effortless success in a Beginners Chase at Down Royal, he looks bound for the Arkle Chase.
Romeo Coolio
This five-year-old is another whom Elliott has waxed lyrical about since he first set foot on the track. Kicking off with a Point-to-Point success at Belclare, he followed up in a Fairyhouse Bumper before finishing an excellent second in the Champion Bumper at the Cheltenham Festival. He wasn’t so good when fifth at Punchestown, but a slow pace on quicky ground was never likely to play to his strengths. Reported as having strengthened up considerably over the summer, it will be interesting to see how high he can climb in the 2m Novice Hurdle division.
Ten For the Tracker
No shortage of stars on show, and it seems likely more lurk amongst the extensive Cullentra House cast. The Elliott yard is always worth following closely throughout the season, with the following ten the pick of those added to our horse tracker.
- Ballybow – This Gigginstown House Stud runner looked all about stamina when staying on for second in two 3m Point-to-Point events. However, he showed another string to his bow when quickening well to land a 2m2½f Bumper at Sligo on his seasonal return. That combination of speed and staying power may take him a long way in novice hurdle company.
- Better Days Ahead – Milan is a sire we like in the staying chase sphere, and this six-year-old has shown immense promise in his career to date. Successful in a Point-to-Point, Bumper, and Maiden Hurdle, his finest hour came when landing the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockey’s Handicap Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. Set to tackle fences in the coming campaign, he may live up to his name.
- Classical Creek – As this series progresses, you may notice that Walk In The Park is one of our favourite stayers to follow. This Gigginstown recruit earns his place on the list courtesy of an emphatic 10l victory in his Point-to-Point at Tattersalls Farm. Likely to start out in a Bumper, he looks just the sort to carry those famous silks with distinction.
- He Can’t Dance – Snapped up for €300,000 following an easy Point-to-Point win at Monksgrange, this son of Jukebox Jury is an impressive physical specimen. Reportedly catching the eye in his work at home, he rates another intriguing addition to the novice ranks.
- Jacob’s Ladder – By the useful National Hunt sire Mount Nelson and out of a Milan mare, this five-year-old appeals on pedigree and ran a cracker to go down by a short head to the talented Will The Wise in his final Point-to-Point start. An effortless winner of his Bumper on rules debut, he’s one to follow in the coming months.
- Jalon D’oudairies – One of last season’s standout Bumper performers, this five-year-old won three of four starts, with his only defeat coming when third in the Champion Bumper. Plugging on well at the end of that 2m contest, a step up in trip may bring out more, with the Gallagher Novices’ Hurdle looking like an obvious target.
- Koktail Brut – Eliott boasts an enviable cast of youngsters, and we wouldn’t be too surprised if this Cokoriko gelding emerged as the best of the bunch. A half-brother to three 130+ performers, he landed his Point-to-Point with ease and should be out soon in a Bumper.
- Stellar Story – Having viewed this stamina-laden seven-year-old as a staying chaser in the making, we were as surprised as anyone to see him cause a 33/1 shock in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle. If taking to fences as well as expected, he can go far.
- The Yellow Clay – A perfect two from two in Bumpers in 2022/23, this one failed to deliver on his first two outings last season. However, clear inexperience appeared to be the issue, and he settled much better when keeping on for second in the big Bumper at the Punchestown Festival. Continuing that progress with a 9l romp on his seasonal return, this son of Yeats can be a force in Novice Hurdles over 2m4f and beyond.
- Wingmen – Carrying the increasingly familiar silks of Bective Stud, Wingmen rounded off his debut season with an impressive success in a Punchestown Bumper - a race which is working out well. A bold frontrunner with a formidable stride, he looks the sort to make his presence felt as he tackles hurdles this season.
Paul Harrison
Falling in love with racing at a young age, Paul’s passion for sports and betting took him to Salford University, where he obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Business Economics with Gambling Studies. Having spent ten years in the employment of a leading bookmaker, Paul opted to go it alone and pursue his dream job as a freelance writer.
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