GORDON Elliott sent out his first winner 20 years ago this summer and, in that time, he has saddled 27 total winners at the Galway Festival. It goes to show what a rip-roaring success last year’s meeting was for the Cullentra handler that nearly one fifth of those entire victories (five) came in 2025 - a spectacular Plate-Hurdle double headling a Festival five-timer for the yard.
The stars aligned out west 12 months ago and another sizeable attack is being launched from Co Meath on Ballybrit’s two crown jewels again next week. Wednesday’s Tote Galway Plate and Thursday’s Guinness Galway Hurdle represent significant early-season targets for the 116-time Grade 1-winning trainer. Ante-post markets have Elliott currently responsible for the joint-favourite in the Hurdle, and the joint-second-favourite for the Plate.
Ndaawi’s dramatic promotion to first in the Galway Hurdle marked a first win in the race for Elliott, but the Plate has been a much happier hunting ground. Western Fold’s victory in 2025 marked the trainer’s fifth win in the space of 10 runnings of the €270,000 prize.
A top-level triumph for Western Fold when last seen at the Punchestown Festival means that the improving chaser is the third Galway Plate winner in nine years to later win at Grade 1 level, following the exploits of Balko Des Flos (2017) and Hewick (2022). These races can take some winning.
Elliott opened the doors of his Longwood-based operation this week for a Galway Races and Horse Racing Ireland media day, hot on the heels of weights being published for the meeting’s premium handicaps.
“We’ve mapped four or five horses out for Galway this year again, the likes of El Cairos in the Hurdle and Nowwhatdoyouthink, who we bought a few months ago, in the Plate. When it worked for us last year, we felt it made sense,” Elliott explained.
“If you can win the Plate or the Hurdle, it’s massive prize money that can kick you right up there until Christmas. Owners love the meeting and Galway do a great job around the week with their launch.
“To be honest, I think everyone in Horse Racing Ireland should be brought down to look at what Galway did at their open day launch in the Earl Inn in Kiltullagh. I thought it was second to none, and I’m not just saying it because some of the Galway team are here today. It was simple and a nice touch. Sometimes we try to go for too fancy - me included, we all do - but I thought Galway got things right.
Relaxed feel
“As far as the week goes, it’s not a big pressure one for us. It’s summer racing and you’re hoping to get a couple of winners. I enjoy it. It’s a nice place to stay down for a couple of nights and good fun. I think Galway on any night of the year is good.”
He added: “As for the ground, I’d imagine everyone is praying for rain. It is going to be a concern. We want some rain, but not for it to spill all week down there! It’s obviously something all racecourses have to worry about at the moment.”
Considering he was one of the long-term leading fancies for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle in March, El Cairos rates a fascinating contender off a mark of 143 in the Guinness Galway Hurdle (weight of 11st 12lb as it stands). He was last seen finishing fourth, beaten eight and a half lengths, behind Eachtotheirown at the Punchestown Festival.
“He seems in good form and we’re very happy with him, he’s working well,” said Elliott.
“I think he’s the type of horse who will suit the Galway Hurdle, coming back to a handicap after being in graded races. Look, ultimately, he’s maybe been a little disappointing over hurdles. He hasn’t done what we thought he’d do but hopefully this race should play to his strengths. I’d imagine Jack Kennedy will ride him.
“When he came to us, he didn’t get much of a break, having come from the sales in late October and run for us at Leopardstown over Christmas. He was straight into training. He’s now had a couple of months of a break and he’s freshened up. I hope that’ll help. We’re looking forward to running him.
Flat speed
“He’s not a big, robust horse so hopefully nice ground should suit him. I’d say he could win on the flat, he’s that quick. Look, he’s not up to winning at Grade 1 level at the moment so we’re going to try this.”
On some of his other Hurdle hopefuls and last year’s stewards’ room drama, Elliott added: “I’ll probably claim off Casheldale Lad up the top. Ndaawi, if he runs, has a lot of weight in this. He’ll either run in the Hurdle or will switch to a beginners’ chase. He’s schooled very well over fences. I know he’s run twice in the Hurdle - finished second and won it - but I just wouldn’t be so sure he’s that well handicapped to go and have another crack at the same race. I’ll discuss it with the owners but maybe he can try chasing.
“Bowensonfire is another we have entered up. Looking through the entries, this looks like a competitive race without being a wonderful race; there are a lot of exposed horses in there. I’m hoping El Cairos might still be a bit unexposed.
Hurdle drama
“In terms of last year, to be honest, the whole situation was more full of pressure for him [Noel Meade] than me because I had finished second past the post. It’s not a nice way to win a race, but I won’t be giving it back either!”
The triple Grand National-winning trainer believes the nature of the Tote Galway Plate could be right up new recruit Nowwhatdoyouthink’s street. Elliott sourced the recent Grade 1-placed chaser privately from Tipperary trainer Ray Hackett, and the seven-year-old will race in the colours of American owners Leamington Racing.
“We don’t know that much about him, he’s not with us that long,” said the trainer with 180 National Hunt winners saddled in Ireland last season.
“We bought him for an American owner, with the plan to go back to America at some stage but first to run in some of the valuable handicaps like the Galway Plate and Kerry National. At the current weights, I think he’s got a beautiful weight on his back at 10st 4lb. He’s probably the unexposed horse of ours running in the race and is at the right end of the handicap, which you always need.”
Elliott added: “Three Card Brag finished eighth in the race last year but, if you watch the race back, he was beaten at the start. I wouldn’t just give up on him yet. Maxxum has been a star for us and tends to win a big one every year but I’m not sure the ground will be soft enough for him.
“King Of Kingsfield has been disappointing and has had a couple of wind operations. I’ll probably run him in the Plate and step him up in trip to two miles and six furlongs, hoping he might get a chance to breathe a bit better over the longer distance.”
Progress made
A big-money double in the Plate and Hurdle last season propelled the stable into a strong lead in the Irish National Hunt trainers’ championship, but Elliott, who indicated Brighterdaysahead is likely to stay hurdling this winter, wasn’t eager to be drawn into early chat around another title challenge.
Asked what he feels needs to go differently in 2026/’27 in order for him to get his hands on the title, he said: “We led Willie [Mullins] with three days to go last season, but we need more horses. We need better horses. We’re getting better, but I still think we’re three to five years off being where we want to be.
“We’re getting closer every year, but Willie is the man. He has the horses and he sets the standard. I said it all along last season that I knew I hadn’t enough to finish it out, but I’m proud of all the team we have.
“I think we have a very nice bunch of winter horses, maybe we don’t have quite such a good group of summer horses, but that’s the way it goes. We reinvested in a lot of nice horses for the winter. Fingers crossed we have a couple of stars.”
“I think Lizzie Twigg is a nice little filly. If the ground turns up good, I think she can run a nice race in a novice hurdle. Ndaawi will have a chance in beginners’ chase company, Porcupine Bankhas won his last two starts so goes there in good form and I think Prime Contender is a nice bumper horse for the four-year-old bumper on the first day.
“We have loads of each-way chances but you need a lot of luck around Galway. It’s a unique place. There’s no doubt it’s a place where the term horses for courses fits in, and Ndaawi has that in his favour. I’d give Casheldale Lad a chance in the Hurdle too. Yes, he has plenty of weight but he has some Grade 1 form.”