Four Gordon Elliott-trained horses to watch at the Cheltenham Festival
Year after year, the Cheltenham Festival is becoming more and more dominated by the Irish. 2021’s behind-closed-doors renewal of the meeting was perhaps the most damning for the British yet. The visitors came across from the other side of the Irish Sea and won all but five of the festival’s 28 races with Henry de Bromhead, Rachael Blackmore and Willie Mullins starring on the podium.
The return of Gordon Elliott, who was serving a year-long ban from the sport during last year’s Prestbury Park highlight, means the Irish are heading into the 2022 edition of the Festival looking as dangerous as ever. Yes, the 43-year-old lost many of his best horses to his Irish rivals in the wake of that controversy, including Envoi Allen and Sir Gerhard, but he still has plenty of quality in his yard.
That said, here’s a look at four Elliott-trained to horses to watch at Prestbury Park next month.
Run Wild Fred – National Hunt Challenge Cup
Day one is looking like it could be a bit of a washout for the County Meath-based trainer, so for the action it’s best to jump straight to Ladies Day and Run Wild Fred. Despite winning just one of his three races so far this season, beating his stablemate Farclas in the Grade B Troytown Handicap Chase at Navan, the bookies are still tipping the eight-year-old to win the Grade 2 National Hunt Challenge Cup Amateur Jockeys’ Novices’ Chase, which is the closing race on day two’s card. Elliott boasts a decent record in the race, with four winners to date, so it would be no surprise to see Run Wild Fred prevail on his status as market leader.
Tiger Roll – Cross Country Chase
Questions have been asked about Tiger Roll for the last couple of years now, but one simply can’t keep a good horse down. His form has been somewhat unpredictable since those stunning back-to-back Grand Nationals in 2018 and 2019, but it was a joy to behold when the legendary horse put on a fantastic performance, seemingly out of nowhere, to beat Easysland by 18 lengths to regain his cross country crown. Had racegoers been in attendance, the roof would have come off Prestbury Park last March. Gunning for a fourth victory in the marathon race this year, it would be foolish to rule out his name featuring on the tip sheets.
Ginto – Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle
One of the best youngsters Elliott has in training, Ginto is the ante-post favourite to win the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle on the final day of the Festival. Bought by Bective Stud for a huge €470,000, the six-year-old is beginning to look like good value for money as he’s gone three for three over hurdles so far this season, moving with the Grades with ease as well, winning the Grade 2 Navan Novice Hurdle in December before landing the top-level Naas Novice Hurdle last month. They say he jumps well and stays brilliantly.
Galvin – The Gold Cup
It could be a final day double for Elliott if Galvin can follow Ginto into the Prestbury Cup winner’s enclosure with a victory in the prestigious Gold Cup. The Irish trainer has only won the showpiece race once thus far in his career, with Don Cossack securing the top prize in 2016, and what better way to announce a return than ending that drought? Currently second favourite in the Gold Cup, Ginto has gotten the better of the market leader, A Plus Tard, once already this year, beating him in the Grade 1 Savills Chase at Leopardstown and Elliott will be confident his eight-year-old can replicate that success.
The editorial unit
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