GORDON Elliott has enjoyed a phenomenal campaign. He has batted away questions about the trainers championship over the last few months, but leaving that aside, this season, he has saddled 153 winners and they have earned over €3m.
To put the former figure into context, back in the 2013/14 season, Elliott saddled 57 domestic winners. He has more horses now (the yard can accommodate 170), but it has been remarkable what he has achieved over the last four years.
We are only midway through February and Elliott is likely to aim an army of horses at the Irish Grand National and there are huge prizes to be won at the big domestic spring festivals at Fairyhouse and Punchestown.
He has a great team around him. His trusty lieutenants Shane McCann and Simon McGonagle have been with him from the start and he said: “I have the best of staff and we all get on well together. They all have a job to do and they get on with it, and by and large everything runs well.
“I have great owners and without them, we wouldn’t have the horses. We get on great support and the (Gordon Elliott) Racing Club is going well and look, we are in a great position. But you can take nothing for granted in this game.
“We have a lot of nice horses and we’ve had a great season to date and looking ahead, we’ll aim as many as we can at Cheltenham, but there is also Aintree, Fairyhouse and Punchestown to consider and we’ll try and run the horses where they have the best chance of winning or being competitive.
“We try and find the best race for each horse and if that means skipping Cheltenham so be it – I have to do what is best for the horses and I have great people around me that I can bounce things off.”
He added: “I am enjoying it and there is very little free time, but I wouldn’t want to be doing anything else. I am in a very lucky position and we just have to keep looking ahead and find where the next winner is coming from.”
This week we have concentrated principally on the horses that won’t make it to Cheltenham.
Gordon has a huge number of horses, but due to space constraints we have had to leave some out, principally those that will run throughout the summer – it just isn’t possible to include them all.
Next week, we will go through the rest of his team and his principal Cheltenham runners
A TOI PHIL
7yo b g (2/O117-P116515)
Day Flight - Lucidrile
Gigginstown House Stud
He won the Leopardstown Chase and he has done very well for us this season. He was a bit flat the last day and the Grade 1 at Fairyhouse could be an option for him. He has paid his way and he jumps well.
He is likely to get an entry in the Irish National as well as some of the good novice/handicap chases at Aintree and Punchestown.
He likes an ease in the ground and once the ground isn’t too quick it should be fine for him.
BACK BAR
5yo b/b g (P-U2)
Brian Boru - Howrwedoin
Gigginstown House Stud
He is a nice horse and he ran well on his first start for us in a bumper at Thurles. I’d say the winner is a nice horse and our lad will go for another bumper and long term, he will make into a nice chaser down the road.
He will come on for the run at Thurles and we are in no rush to run him, but you’d like to think that he’ll win a bumper before he goes hurdling.
Again, once the ground isn’t quick it should be fine for him.
BALL D’ARC
6yo b g (62U214231)
Network- Pretty Moon
Gigginstown House Stud
He has developed into a good horse for us and he won the Dan Moore well. He won that off 133 and if he has gone up to 142 now. He jumps great and he will run in the Flyingbolt at Navan on Sunday. After that we’ll see – he might go to Cheltenham for the Grand Annual or we might keep him at home. He is a nice horse and there should be more to come from him.
BALTAZAR D’ALLIER
6yo br g (1/12)
Malinas - Kinoise D’Allier
John P McManus
He won his maiden hurdle well at Naas and I thought he ran a very good race when second in the Challow at Newbury.
He is a big chaser down the road and ultimately we won’t see the best of him until he jumps a fence. He has a few options and he might to Navan for a novice hurdle in a few weeks’ time.
I’ll see what Frank and JP want to do regarding Cheltenham – I wouldn’t have thought he’ll go, but we’ll know a bit more about him after he runs at Navan.
BLESS THE WINGS
12yo b g (431422-768208)
Winged Love - Silva Venture
Adrian Butler/S P O’Connor
He has been a great servant and he rarely runs a bad race.
He was only touched off in the Irish National last year and he’ll go back for another crack at the race again this year.
He isn’t getting any younger but he is a real favourite in the yard and he has been some horse for us. He was also second in the cross-country race at last year’s Cheltenham Festival.
He will go back there for the cross-country race at the festival before having another go at the Irish National.
BROKEN SOUL
6yo b g (3/0236-33212)
Beneficial - Alicia’s Charm
Gigginstown House Stud
He has some good form and he has won a bumper and was second to Melon in a maiden hurdle at Leopardstown.
He should be able to win a maiden hurdle in the coming weeks. He is a chaser in the making, but we’ll try and win a maiden hurdle with him first and let him find his own level over hurdles.
BURREN LIFE
5yo br g (F-232)
Pelder - Burren Valley
Gigginstown House Stud
He has been placed in three bumpers and he is a grand horse.
He looks well up to winning a bumper before we send him jumping.
CADEAU DE BRESIL
5yo b g (5533122)
Blue Bresil - Melanie Du Chenet
Simon Munir & Isaac Souede
He has been running well in his own grade. He handles slow ground and he should be up to winning a novice hurdle, but he will be going over fences sooner rather than later.
CARRAIG CATHAL
6yo b g (-31114BU)
Fair Mix - Blackwater Bay
T J Doran
He was brought down in the Pertemps Qualifier at Punchestown and he was unfortunate to come down at the second last in a listed novice hurdle at Thurles the last day.
He is a nice horse and he should be competitive in decent novice hurdles in the spring.
He will remain over hurdles for the time being and he is ground versatile.
CAUSE OF CAUSES
9yo b g (18/0051P-5P05)
Dynaformer - Angel In My Heart
John P McManus
He has been a great horse for us and he owes us nothing. He will more than likely go to Cheltenham for the cross-country chase and after that he’ll head to Aintree for the National. I am happy enough with the weight that has in that.
CHAMPAGNE CLASSIC
6yo b g (1/212321)
Stowaway - Classical Rachel
Gigginstown House Stud
He is a nice type of horse. He has won a point-to-point, a bumper and a maiden hurdle and he should be up to winning a novice hurdle in the coming weeks.
He will be lovely horse to go chasing with next season. He stays well and he looks a chaser.
CLARCAM
7yo b g (25205273991)
Califet - Rose Beryl
Gigginstown House Stud
He has been a real star for us and he rarely runs a bad race. He has won a couple of Grade 1s and he will more than likely run in the Red Mills Chase at Gowran.
He could turn up in the Irish National and he will run away in all those good conditions chases.
DAKOTA MOIRETTE
4yo b g (2F4212)
Voix Du Nord - Rahana Moirette
Gigginstown House Stud
He is a grand horse that has been running well in juvenile hurdles.
He will run away over hurdles for the remainder of this season, but he jumps well and he will go novice chasing probably after the 1st of May.
With his four-year-old allowance, he should win races over fences on a bit of nice ground.
DEFINITE RUBY
9yo br m (959287-121)
Definite Article - Sunset Queen
James W Power
She won a handicap chase for us at last year’s Punchestown Festival and she likes it around there as she won on her first start back over hurdles a few weeks ago. She will go back over fences now and she will be aimed at a handicap chase at the Punchestown Festival again this year.
Once the ground isn’t too quick, she will handle anything.
DE PLOTTING SHED
7yo b g (12-9111264)
Beneficial - Lady Willmurt
Ives Ashley Vasey Partnership
He has done well for us this season and he will run away in all those good staying hurdles. He is rated 150 over hurdles and you’d imagine that he could be a very nice horse to go novice chasing with next season. He seems to handle any ground and he has plenty of options at the big spring festivals. I’d love to win a good race with him before he goes over fences.
FAYONAGH
6yo b m (811)
Kalanisi - Fair Ina
Mrs M Gittins
She looked a real good filly when she won her bumper at Fairyhouse. She will be entered in all the good bumpers (including Cheltenham). Those mares’ bumpers at Sandown and Aintree might suit her better, but she is a very nice mare and she will hopefully develop into a very good mare over hurdles next season. She surprised me a bit with the way she won at Fairyhouse. She will handle better ground, but she is very good on soft.
FLAXEN FLARE
8yo ch g (343256/F1/1-)
Windsor Knot - Golden Angel
Mrs P Sloan
He is back cantering away and the Irish National is the aim for him, but we’ll see, it might come a bit soon for him.
Either way, he should be up to paying his way in the second half of the season.
GENERAL PRINCIPLE
8yo b g (10/126-322F)
Gold Well - How Provincial
Gigginstown House Stud
He has been placed in numerous beginners chases and he should be able to win one and find his own level over fences. Two and half miles looks his trip and he wouldn’t want the ground too quick.
GLENLOE
6yo br g (7-6515)
Kayf Tara - Mandys Native
John P McManus
He is a nice horse that won his maiden hurdle before running well in a Pertemps Qualifier a few weeks ago.
He should be up to winning a handicap hurdle before the end of the season. He should handle any ground, but he wouldn’t want it too quick.
HARDLINE
5yo b g (1-831FF2)
Arcadio - Hidden Reserve
Gigginstown House Stud
He chased Getabird home the last day and he will more than likely be kept at home this season and he might go for something like the Champion Bumper at Punchestown.
He should come into his own over hurdles next season. He was unlucky to come down twice when in contention in two maiden hurdles this season, but he does jump well – he has won his point-to-point.
I thought he ran a very good race the last day and there should be more to come from him.
HOLEINTHEWALL BAR
9yo b g (0225P44F0231F)
Westerner - Cockpit Lady
Blended Syndicate
He is a grand horse in his own grade. He won well at Down Royal and he should continue to pay his way for the lads that have him. He might be horse that we might travel with later on this year.
IT’S ALL GUESSWORK
5yo b g (76)
Mahler - La Lambertine
Philip J Reynolds
He looks a nice horse. He was a bit disappointing the last day at Leopardstown, but he works well at home and we’ll wait for the ground to dry out a bit now and send him back over hurdles.
JEANNOT DE NONANT
5yo ch g (026366-114P0)
Full Of Gold - Jolie Puce
Simon Munir & Isaac Souede
He ran okay the other day and he should be up to winning races over a trip.
He wasn’t beaten that far at Leopardstown and he is big enough to jump a fence.
JURY DUTY
6yo b g (334413-21)
Well Chosen - Swan Heart
Sideways Syndicate
He will go to Chepstow for Pertemps Qualifier and then hopefully onto Cheltenham for the final at the festival.
He is a nice horse and he hasn’t done a lot of racing, but his form is very solid and he won a nice race for us on Troytown Day at Navan in last November. (Elliott won six of the seven races on the card that day)
KNOCKMAOLE BOY
5yo b g (3311669-)
Echo Of Light - Kashmir Lady
Twenty Times Two Syndicate
He was a cheap horse that we bought off Jim Culloty and he will give the syndicate loads of fun over hurdles and fences. He will handle any ground.
LABAIK
6yo gr g (11RR)
Montmarte - Avanguardia
A J O’Ryan
He has a massive engine, but he we’ve has trouble with him at the start. He will have another go at a novice hurdle in the next few weeks and he works like a real good horse at home.
He has won a Grade 3 this season and he handles any ground. If he jumped off, he is as horse that would be plenty good enough to run in a Supreme Novices’.
LAST MINUTE MAN
5yo bg (1)
Yeats - Ella Watson
Paul & Clare Rooney
He won his bumper on his debut at Down Royal and he is a horse for the future. The ground was very testing the day he won, but he has come out of it well, but I am in no rush with him.
He might go for a winners’ bumper in the spring and that will be that. He will be go novice hurdling next season.
LEOMAR
4yo ch g (23)
Adlerflug - Lovana
Gigginstown House Stud
He was placed in a couple of maiden hurdles and, while he might not be one of our leading juveniles, he will win races. He could go jumping fences in the new season to make use of his four-year-old allowance.
LORD SCOUNDREL
8yo b g (111223312-51F23)
Presenting - Noble Choice
Gigginstown House Stud
He won the Kerry National and he has been a great servant. He will be aimed at the Irish National and there is a chance that he could go for a handicap at Cheltenham. He jumps and he stays well and he has done his job already this season but the Irish National is worth a lot of money this season (€500,000) so he will be one of a good few that we’ll aim at the race.
LOVE AND WISHES
5yo b/br g (0)
Winged Love - Dixies Gem
JJ Taylor
He is a nice horse and he was a bit disappointing on his only start at Fairyhouse, but I’d like to think that he is better than that and he’ll be out again in another bumper in the next few weeks.
MENGLI KHAN
4yo b g (2)
Lope De Vega - Danielli
Gigginstown House Stud
He is a nice horse that we bought off the flat last year and he ran a nice race behind Ex Patriot at Fairyhouse. The winner ran well in a Grade 1 at the weekend and our horse was a decent on the flat for Hugo Palmer. He will more than likely go for a graded hurdle and ground wise, he probably wouldn’t want it too quick.
MIDNIGHT ESCAPE
5yo b g (1131)
Milan - Special Case
Grant Mercer & Mrs Caren Walsh
He is a nice horse. He won a point-to-point and was placed in two good maiden hurdles before he won his maiden last weekend at Naas.
That was job done for him this season as he is a real chaser in the making, but we’ll find a novice hurdle in the coming weeks and he should be competitive in those for the remainder of the season.