Tag Archive for: Gordon Elliott

‘Fresh and well’ Conflated poised to make his mark in Gold Cup

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Gordon Elliott is confident Conflated is “in the mix” for the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup after deciding against bidding for back-to-back victories in Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown last weekend.

The nine-year-old was a surprise winner of the Dublin Racing Festival feature 12 months ago, but proved that was no fluke by running well before falling in the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham before pushing Clan Des Obeaux close in the Aintree Bowl.

Following a promising comeback run at Down Royal in the autumn, Conflated dominated Leopardstown’s Savills Chase over the Christmas period, but Elliott elected to keep his powder dry for the blue riband in the Cotswolds next month.

Speaking at a press event at his County Meath yard on Tuesday morning, the Cullentra handler admitted he was heartened to see Fury Road – third behind Conflated over the festive period – finish a similar distance behind Cheltenham Gold Cup favourite Galopin Des Champs when third again on Saturday.

“We decided not to run him in the Irish Gold Cup and he’ll go to Cheltenham fresh and well,” he said.

“I suppose the fact that Fury Road led over the last the other day would give me hope that Conflated could run a good race in Cheltenham.

“I probably ran him in the wrong race last year going for the Ryanair. The way he ran in Aintree last season and the way he ran in Leopardstown the last day, I think the Gold Cup will suit him.”

The Willie Mullins-trained Galopin Des Champs strengthened his position at the head of the Gold Cup market with an eight-length verdict at Leopardstown – and while not everyone was blown away by the performance, Elliott expects him to prove a tough nut to crack.

Gordon Elliott at his yard on Tuesday morning
Gordon Elliott at his yard on Tuesday morning (Niall Carson/PA)

He added: “Galopin Des Champs sets the standard and he’s the horse we all have to beat, but I think we’re in the mix.

“When you look at the re-run, I thought Galopin Des Champs was probably more impressive than when you watched it the first time. Paul (Townend) had him asleep and it probably took him a bit to wake him up, but he galloped from the last to the line well.

“I just worry about my own horse, but I wouldn’t mind having him!”

Conflated will be part of another formidable team Elliott is preparing to send to Prestbury Park in less than five weeks’ time, with his novice chasing squad particularly strong.

He houses the ante-post favourite for the three-mile Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase in Saturday’s Scilly Isles victor Gerri Colombe, while Mighty Potter is cramped odds for the Turners’ Novices’ Chase after bagging his fourth Grade One win at Leopardstown on Sunday.

Gerri Colombe parading
Gerri Colombe parading (Niall Carson/PA)

“Over two and a half miles softer ground would suit Gerri Colombe, but he’s not a mud lark and is not as slow as you’d think – he’s just so relaxed,” said Elliott.

“I’d say over three miles plus in the Brown Advisory he’ll be fine on better ground and I think the further he goes the better he’ll be.

“He’s a very unassuming horse who doesn’t do anything exciting at home, but he knows how to win.

“He’s so relaxed and I think the Brown Advisory is made for him.

“Mighty Potter is probably relaxing more with racing. He jumped great the other day and it was only when you watch the re-run of the race that you realise how good he was,” said Elliott.

“He’s an unassuming type of horse and it wouldn’t worry me to come back to two miles, but at the moment we’re going for the middle-distance race.

“Envoi Allen was the real thing and there was Samcro and Don Cossack. We’ve had a few nice novice chasers, but I’d say he could be bang up there.”

Teahupoo is a major hope for the Elliott team in the Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle after inflicting a first career defeat on Honeysuckle in the Hatton’s Grace at Fairyhouse before successfully stepping up to three miles in the Galmoy at Gowran.

The six-year-old was bitterly disappointing when quietly fancied for the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham last season, but Elliott is putting that performance down to the trip rather than the track.

Teahupoo is a leading contenders for the Stayers' Hurdle at Cheltenham
Teahupoo is a leading contenders for the Stayers’ Hurdle at Cheltenham (Niall Carson/PA)

He added: “I’d say he just got took off his feet over two miles last year. He’s not a big, heavy horse and I don’t see why over three miles he shouldn’t be OK.

“It’s not going to be quick ground and if you listen to likes of Barry Geraghty and Ruby Walsh over the years talking about Stayers’ Hurdle horses, they always say they have to race behind the bridle and be relaxed and that is exactly what Teahupoo is – nothing fazes him.”

While Conflated, Gerri Colombe, Mighty Potter and Teahupoo will all head to Cheltenham with solid claims, Elliott appears particularly confident about the chances of Delta Work, who is all set to defend his crown in the Glenfarclas Chase over the cross-country course.

The multiple Grade One winner played the role of pantomime villain last year when denying his dual Grand National and five-time Festival-winning stablemate Tiger Roll, but he will return 12 months on as a red-hot favourite after finishing third under a big weight at the track last month.

Gordon Elliott with Delta Work
Gordon Elliott with Delta Work (Niall Carson/PA)

“I won the race so I didn’t mind, but it would have been the perfect send-off for Tiger Roll to have won last year obviously. It wasn’t to be, but he got a great reception,” said Elliott.

“I was very happy with Delta Work’s run the other day. He was giving the winner and the second a lot of weight and off level weights, it looks like he’s thrown in.”

While Elliott is still finalising running plans for some members of a squad, a few of the pieces are beginning to fall into place.

He added: “Three Card Brag will probably go for the Albert Bartlett along with Favori De Champdou. Cool Survivor ran well the other day and he’ll probably go for the Martin Pipe or he could go for the Albert Bartlett as well.

“Absolute Notions might not be badly handicapped and he can probably go for a handicap more so than a Grade One.

“Unfortunately we couldn’t run American Mike in Leopardstown the other day. He scoped bad after Navan and there was something wrong with him, so we’ve missed a good part of the season.

“I was looking forward to running him the other day, but couldn’t due to personal reasons and it’s hard to find a race for him now.

“He’s entered in a Listed race over two miles at Navan on Sunday, which isn’t ideal, but I kind of need to get a run into him because he can be a fresh horse and I just want to knock the freshness off him.

“Better Days Ahead will go straight to Cheltenham for the Champion Bumper. I’d say the bumper horses in Ireland just mightn’t be as strong as they have been, but my horse is a good horse.

“King Of Kingsfield will run in it as well and Pour Les Filles who won in Leopardstown under Harry Swan, we’ll probably run the three of them.”

Elliott willing Kennedy to be fit for Cheltenham – but Russell remains able deputy

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Gordon Elliott is still hoping Jack Kennedy will be fit in time to return at the Cheltenham Festival – but admits it will come “down to the wire”.

Kennedy has been on the sidelines with a broken leg since early January, but immediately stated his intention to return in time for the big meeting.

As a result of his injury, Davy Russell, who had only recently announced his retirement, reversed that decision to come back and ride as first choice for Elliott, principally for last weekend’s Dublin Racing Festival at which he partnered Mighty Potter to Grade One glory.

“We’re keeping everything crossed Jack will be back. He’s going to the hospital on Thursday and he’s going to Dubai then for a week for a bit of sun,” said Elliott.

“It’ll be tight and he knows that – it’ll be down to the wire. But if he’s back he’ll be riding everything. He’s number one now and all these horses are waiting for him to come back.

“I’d say for Jack’s own peace of mind he’d like to ride a day (before Cheltenham). If he’s not coming back on the Sunday before he’s not going to ride on the Tuesday, that’s the way I’m looking at it.

“Jack has been unlucky with injuries, but saying that he’s only 22 years of age and he’s ridden 36 or 37 Grade One winners.

“He came to Leopardstown on Sunday and was in the ring with the horses and out on the track. He’s got a great attitude. All jockeys get falls and to have horses to come back and ride is very important and he has the backing of me.

“People will say he’s been unlucky to break his leg four or five times, but the fall he got off that horse the other day he’s lucky he didn’t break his neck – it was a haymaker.”

Mighty Potter and Davy Russell on their way to victory
Mighty Potter and Davy Russell on their way to victory (Lorraine O’Sullivan/PA)

Russell himself is taking a few days to recover from a fall at Leopardstown on Sunday.

“Davy got a couple of bruised ribs the other day and he’s a bit sore, but Davy is made of steel,” said Elliott.

“If it was six months’ time or three months’ time, the conversation with Davy (coming out of retirement) would never have happened. Jordan (Gainford) and Sam (Ewing) would have stepped straight in, but they’re two young lads who are very talented riders and world-class jockeys and I just felt they could do with a bit more time.

“If anything happened to Davy or Jack they’d be riding all the horses, but I was just trying to do the right thing for them and bring them along quietly.

“Cheltenham is a daunting place and you need a big attitude to go over there and ride.”

Davy Russell on Tiger Roll (left) and Delta Work and Jack Kennedy return after last year's Cross Country Chase
Davy Russell on Tiger Roll (left) and Delta Work and Jack Kennedy return after last year’s Cross Country Chase (Mike Egerton/PA)

When asked if there was a possibility both Kennedy and Russell could ride at Cheltenham, Elliott added: “I’d say whatever happens Davy will be over riding out for us on a morning and if anything happens to Jack, Davy will be there to pick up the pieces, but he knows he’s keeping the seat warm for him.

“I haven’t even had the conversation with Davy about it (riding at Cheltenham). At the moment we don’t know if Jack is going to be back so we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.

“Myself and Davy talk most days and I’ve been friends with him since I was 16 or 17. Credit to the man for him to step back in and I’m sure he’ll be in Cheltenham.”

Gordon Elliott fears consequences of new whip rules could be ‘frightening’

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Gordon Elliott has added his voice to the list of trainers who have concerns over the introduction of the new whip rules, insisting the consequences ahead of  jump racing’s two major festivals could be “frightening”.

New regulations are set to come into force on February 13 which include reducing how many times the whip can be used and a toughening up of the penalty structure.

The very worst whip offences could result in disqualification of horses and riding bans of 20 days – a tariff which will be doubled in class one and two races – with a soft launch having been in place since January 9.

Paul Nicholls and Willie Mullins have both called for the British Horseracing Authority to push back the start date for the implementation, along with a number of senior riders on both sides of the Irish Sea, who have also aired their misgivings.

Elliott said: “It’s frightening. To think it’s coming in only a couple of weeks before a massive festival, it’s frightening.

“Listening to Sean Bowen and a few of the lads in England, they’re kind of having to change their style of riding altogether. I don’t think it’s good, especially heading into Cheltenham.

“Someone was saying Davy Russell would have broken a rule riding Mighty Potter the other day and I’m not sure if he hit him more than two or three (times), but it was because his hand rose a certain height.

“I don’t know what’s going to happen.”

Davy Russell could have faced a ban for his ride on Mighty Potter
Davy Russell could have faced a ban for his ride on Mighty Potter (Lorraine O’Sullivan/PA)

He went on: “Obviously the jockeys are all going to have to do a lot of work on it, but it’s not really healthy going into Cheltenham.

“We could be short of riders for the Grand National! It’s frightening if you think four or five jockeys got suspended.”

There were 44 referrals to the whip review committee – which will be responsible for handing out suspensions under the new system – during the first week of the ‘bedding-in’ period but in subsequent weeks numbers have not been published.

The BHA announced last week that it would review “the manner in which the rules and guidance are being applied” both by raceday stewards and the committee but there are no plans to alter any specific rules or guidance.

Zanahiyr faces losing third place in last season’s Champion Hurdle

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Zanahiyr faces disqualification from third place in last season’s Champion Hurdle after testing positive for a prohibited substance.

An independent disciplinary panel of the British Horseracing Authority will consider on Wednesday whether his trainer Gordon Elliott is in breach of the post-January 4 2022 Rules of Racing due to the presence of a prohibited substance urine sample taken from Zanahiyr after the race on March 15.

Ridden by Jack Kennedy, the pair were beaten four and a lengths by Honeysuckle, with Epatante in second.

In fourth place and set to benefit from any disqualification was the Willie Mullins-trained Saint Roi, like Epatante owned by JP McManus.

Gerri Colombe stays unbeaten with Scilly Isles victory

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Gerri Colombe produced a gutsy performance to land the Virgin Bet Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase at Sandown.

Gordon Elliott’s Irish raider arrived at the Esher track unbeaten, having won two bumpers, a pair of hurdles and two chases, the last of which came in the Grade One Guinness Faugheen Chase at Limerick over Christmas.

Sent off the 10-11 favourite under Jordan Gainford, the seven-year-old looked to be cruising behind Balco Coastal before taking it up down the back on the final circuit.

However, he got in tight at the last of the Railway fences and briefly lost momentum.

It handed the advantage to Nicky Henderson’s runner and jockey Nico de Boinville kicked for home.

At the Pond Fence, Gerri Colombe still had a bit to do and looked laboured, yet Gainford galvanised him and he responded to his rider’s urging and having gone upsides between the last two fences, a good leap at the last sealed the deal and he strode up the hill to score by a length and three-quarters.

Thunder Rock, who had been patiently ridden at the back of the field throughout much of the two-and-a-half-mile contest, made some late gains to finish third.

“We were delighted. We knew we’d be taking a risk going over two and half miles,” Elliott, who was at Leopardstown, told Racing TV.

“In fairness to the horse, he looked like he was beaten three out, but he stayed galloping really well. It was a good performance, we’re delighted with him.

“We were a bit worried that the ground was not as deep as it usually is, but Jordan went over and walked the track this morning. We knew it wasn’t as soft as ideal, but we knew we had to take our chances, being a Grade One.”

Coral were impressed by the performance and cut Gerri Colombe to 4-1 favourite from 10-1 for the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

Elliott added: “Before today I was thinking trying to qualify him for the National Hunt Chase. It looks like we are going to be tight for that now, but he looks made for the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase doesn’t he? So I would say that’s where we’ll go.”

Owner Brian Acheson said: “He made a little mistake at the last of the Railway fences and he just got a little bit tight, but then Jordan got him back. It is great when you have got a kid like Jordan on as you have huge confidence in the jockey. It is a Grade One and you don’t win them that easily.

“I’d be looking at next season with him and if Gordon doesn’t want to go to Cheltenham I’ve no issue with that. Cheltenham is very hard on novice chasers. Next season he could be a Gold Cup horse.

“This has taken the National Hunt Chase out of the equation and it is the Brown Advisory or nothing. He hasn’t run an awful lot as Gordon had it in his head he could be a Gold Cup horse, but we have to keep him sound.”

Gerri Colombe adds touch of star quality to Scilly Isles

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Gordon Elliott’s decision to split his aces has led to Gerri Colombe sidestepping this weekend’s Dublin Racing Festival in favour of a trip to Sandown for the Virgin Bet Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase.

The seven-year-old is unbeaten in six starts thus far, with a point-to-point success followed by two bumper wins, two triumphs in novice hurdles and two victories over fences.

He struck Grade One gold for the first time in the Faugheen Novice Chase at Limerick over the Christmas period, but is set to encounter considerably quicker conditions in Esher this weekend.

“He’s a nice horse and doesn’t do anything too fancy at home, but everything he’s done we’ve obviously been pleased with on track, so we are looking forward to a good weekend,” said Elliott.

Gerri Colombe could quite easily have remained on home soil and lined up in Sunday’s Ladbrokes Novice Chase at Leopardstown, but Elliott has Mighty Potter lined up for that particular top-level prize and he saw little merit in allowing the pair to lock horns.

He added: “There are no soft Grade Ones. Ireland looks fairly competitive, and the race at Sandown looks a good race as well.

“You’ve got Olly Murphy’s horse (Thunder Rock) and the Paul Nicholls horse (Monmiral) in there and you have to respect them, but we are trying to split our horses up as much as anything.”

Thunder Rock has won seven of his 11 starts under rules for Murphy and was particularly impressive in winning his first two outings over fences in novice handicaps at Uttoxeter and Ascot respectively.

Murphy admitted to being disappointed with the Shirocco gelding’s third-placed finish in the Grade Two Dipper Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day and is hoping he can raise his game.

He said: “He’s in very good form. We’re really looking forward to running him as we’ve had this in the back of our minds for a while.

“I’m really looking forward to Saturday and if he gets into a rhythm then hopefully he’ll run very well.

“He just didn’t jump and travel with the same kind of enthusiasm that we saw in his first two starts over fences at Cheltenham last time.

“Whether he got caught out around the track going a good gallop over the extended two and a half miles, I don’t know, but I know that he is better than that run.”

Nicky Henderson relies on Balco Coastal, having decided not to declare Bold Endeavour.

Balco Coastal and Nico de Boinville impressed at Kempton
Balco Coastal and Nico de Boinville impressed at Kempton (John Walton/PA)

The seven-year-old has had two starts over fences and won a novices’ limited handicap over an extended two and a half miles at Kempton on Boxing Day with a degree of ease last time out.

Henderson said: “He was very impressive at Kempton and he’s more like a Grade One horse than the other one is.

“He was very good and was impressive. He deserves his chance in a race like that. We’ll try him and see how we get on.”

Grade One hurdle winner Monmiral was runner-up to Jonbon on his chasing debut at Warwick for champion trainer Paul Nicholls.

He then chased home The Real Whacker at Cheltenham, finishing a head in front of Thunder Rock in third.

“He has come up against two very smart horses in his first two races over fences,” Nicholls said in his Betfair blog.

“He was far from disgraced behind Jonbon at Warwick and then finished second again at Cheltenham to The Real Whacker, who had the run of the race in front.

“We will make plenty of use of Monmiral who is in good shape, jumps fine and will enjoy the stiff track at Sandown. He has a sound chance.”

Ben Pauling is under no illusions of the task facing Bowtogreatness, who is officially rated 135, some 19lb below Gerri Colombe.

Part-owned by former Premier League manager Harry Redknapp, the seven-year-old was beaten a short head on his seasonal bow at Exeter before placing third behind Complete Unknown at Ffos Las last month.

Bowtogreatness and Kielan Woods know they face a stiff task
Bowtogreatness and Kielan Woods know they face a stiff task (Mike Egerton/PA)

Pauling said: “He has got it all to do on ratings, but I have always liked this horse a lot and I’m at the stage of the season where I don’t want to lose his novice status for a pony race.

“So I’d rather he ran well in Graded races than lose his novice status next year. He will be a novice next year and I think hit the heights I fully expect him to do.

“By all means, if he goes and wins one of these, we’ll be delighted.

“Both times this season he’s needed it. The first time he needed it slightly and the second time I ran him quick after we had a lot of snow and he’d missed a lot of work, and he’s just a big, burly horse who takes a lot of getting fit.

“We go there with our eyes wide open, hoping for a nice performance.”

Teahupoo advertises Stayers’ claims with Galmoy glory

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Teahupoo shot to ante-post favouritism for the Stayers’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival following a facile victory in the John Mulhern Galmoy Hurdle at Gowran Park.

Gordon Elliott’s charge finished last behind Honeysuckle in the Champion Hurdles at Cheltenham and Punchestown last season, but turned the tables when inflicting a first career defeat on the superstar mare in the Hatton’s Grace at Fairyhouse last month.

Stepping up to three miles for the first time, Teahupoo was a 4-11 chance to give weight and a beating to five rivals at Grade Two level and could hardly have been more impressive.

Ridden by Davy Russell, enjoying his first Graded success since coming out of retirement to deputise for the injured Jack Kennedy, Teahupoo travelled like the class horse in the field before being asked to extend in the home straight.

He swiftly put any stamina doubts to bed as he powered 15 lengths clear of the veteran Summerville Boy, seeing Paddy Power slash his Stayers’ Hurdle odds to 11-4 from 7-1.

Elliott said: “He was good and is a good horse. He is going the right way and the plan is to go straight to Cheltenham for the Stayers’ Hurdle.

Gordon Elliott saddled Teahupoo to win the Galmoy Hurdle
Gordon Elliott saddled Teahupoo to win the Galmoy Hurdle (Brian Lawless/PA)

“It was two miles in Cheltenham last year and I’d say this distance is the key to him – over two miles the gun is to your head the whole time. I know he was well beaten in Punchestown after that, but he wasn’t actually beaten that far.

“At the moment we have no worries ground-wise, although it (Stayers Hurdle) is an open race too.

“Davy (Russell) said he panicked and got there a bit soon, as he is so laid-back early but when he gave a squeeze, he leapt back on the bridle. You’d love the way he quickened from the second-last to the line.”

In Excess forces his way into Festival frame

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In Excess may have earned himself a place on Willie Mullins’ formidable Cheltenham Festival squad after starring in a treble for the champion trainer at Fairyhouse on Wednesday.

The French-bred gelding was the 4-9 favourite for the Easter Festival Early Bird Maiden Hurdle, having previously finished second in a French bumper and on his Irish debut at Limerick last month.

Those who took the cramped odds will have had few concerns, with In Excess readily pulling 11 lengths clear in the hands of Sean O’Keeffe – deputising for Paul Townend, who sat out the card due to illness.

“He was keen enough during the race, but I was very happy with the way he quickened after the second-last as I thought he’d done a lot of work at that stage,” said Mullins.

“To win 11 lengths from where he was at the second-last, I thought it was a good performance on very testing ground.

“He’s a horse that could move up to graded class. I don’t know where we’ll go next, I’d like to find a winners-of-one or a Listed race maybe.

“I’d be hoping he’ll improve going into the spring time and he’ll probably go for one of the novice hurdles in Cheltenham I’d say, maybe the Ballymore.”

The trainer’s nephew Danny Mullins stood in for Townend aboard the other yard’s other two winners – Chavez (9-4) in the Fairyhouse For Your Fundraiser Beginners Chase and Hauturiere (11-10) in the HAY ‘How Are Ya’ Campaign Mares Maiden Hurdle.

Hauturiere after winning under Danny Mullins
Hauturiere after winning under Danny Mullins (Gary Carson/PA)

Of the latter, Mullins added: “I was a little bit concerned at the third last as the signals coming from Danny didn’t look great, but she was in behind a few horses and once he got clear and took her wide, she just took off and I was very happy how she finished.

“I’ve always thought a nice bit of her but was just disappointed we hadn’t got her head in front. Today she got her head in front on very testing ground and she’ll probably stay much further.

“I don’t know if she’s good enough, but she’ll probably get an entry in the Grade One here at Easter and she has a lot of experience to go to the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle in Cheltenham.”

Three Card Brag impressed for Gordon Elliott and Adrian Heskin
Three Card Brag impressed for Gordon Elliott and Adrian Heskin (Gary Carson/PA)

Another Fairyhouse winner with Cheltenham aspirations is Gordon Elliott’s Three Card Brag.

With Adrian Heskin aboard, the 8-11 favourite proved 12 lengths too strong for the Mullins-trained Spanish Harlem and was cut to 10-1 from 12-1 for the Albert Bartlett by Paddy Power.

Elliott’s assistant, Ian Amond, said: “Adrian said going out that he’d probably make the running on him because he wants further down the line.

“He’s a nice horse and he stays at it well. It probably wasn’t ideal having to make the running because he’s lazy, but Adrian said he picked up and the further he went, the better he was.”

Teahupoo to test Stayers’ credentials in Galmoy heat

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Hatton’s Grace hero Teahupoo tests the water over three miles for the first time in the John Mulhern Galmoy Hurdle at Gowran Park on Thursday.

Gordon Elliott’s charge finished last behind Honeysuckle in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham and the Punchestown Champion Hurdle last season, but turned that form on its head when inflicting a first career defeat on Henry de Bromhead’s superstar mare at Fairyhouse last month.

That victory came over the intermediate distance of two and a half miles and Elliott is keen to see how he fares over an even longer trip in a bid to discover whether the Stayers’ Hurdle at Cheltenham in March is a realistic target.

When asked if he was looking forward to running Teahupoo over three miles, Elliott said: “I’m looking forward to every day!

“It is a step up in trip and it looks like it will suit him, so we will see what happens.

“We will get Thursday out of the way, but that (Stayers’ Hurdle) is what we are thinking. We are dreaming rather than thinking!”

Teahupoo will be ridden by Davy Russell, who is out to secure his first Graded success since coming out of retirement to fill in for the injured Jack Kennedy.

“It was no surprise to us what this lad did in Fairyhouse last month as he was simply returning to the level we know he can perform at,” Russell told his Star Sports blog.

Davy Russell rides Teahupoo at Gowran Park
Davy Russell rides Teahupoo at Gowran Park (Niall Carson/PA)

“He was good here in Gowran last February and we know conditions are in his favour. He’s always shaped like he’s worth a crack at this sort of a trip so we will learn plenty about him.

“This is no easy task though as it’s a good deal further than he’s gone before and he’s a fair penalty to shoulder too. That said, it does look the ideal opportunity for Teahupoo.”

Martin Brassil is looking forward to saddling Longhouse Poet, who won the Thyestes Chase on this card 12 months ago before going on to finish sixth in the Grand National at Aintree.

While his better form is over the larger obstacles, the nine-year-old did make a successful switch to hurdling at Limerick over the Christmas period and Brassil is happy to roll the dice.

He said: “We’re looking forward to his run and he’ll love the ground and he’ll love the trip. It looks like there’s a horse a stone and a half better than him in there, but we’re happy to run him anyway and see how he gets on.

“We were very pleased with his Limerick win and we are hopeful he can build on that. He took the Limerick race very well and we’ve been very happy with him since, so we will see how we go.”

Beacon Edge is fitted with blinkers for the first time by Noel Meade, while De Bromhead is represented by the veteran Summerville Boy.

Early Doors (Joseph O’Brien) and My Design (Declan Queally) complete the Grade Two field.

Doctor Bravo stars in Down Royal double for Elliott

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Doctor Bravo paid a handsome compliment to his Leopardstown conqueror Dark Raven when beating The Big Doyen in the Molson Coors Beverage Company Maiden Hurdle at Down Royal.

Peter Fahey’s The Big Doyen was sent off the 10-11 favourite to open his account over timber having finished second at both Punchestown and Fairyhouse already this season.

Having travelled sweetly throughout for Kevin Sexton, he ended up needing to pull wide in the straight to make his challenge while Davy Russell stayed on the rail on Doctor Bravo (11-10), who eventually pulled two and three-quarter lengths clear.

Gordon Elliott has entered the winner in both the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and the Ballymore at Cheltenham but intimated afterwards the latter would be more likely.

Willie Mullins’ Dark Raven, who was having his first run for 631 days when beating Doctor Bravo on St Stephen’s Day, is a possible for the Dublin Racing Festival.

“He’s a nice horse but probably wants a bit further,” said Elliott.

“Davy said he did well because it was a messy race and he kind of got stuck in a pocket. He showed a good attitude and he said the best of him was from the last to the line.”

Elliott also took the concluding bumper with the impressive 15-length winner No Time To Wait (6-4) who previously had finished third to Mullins’ Ile Atlantique at Leopardstown over the Christmas period.

The winner was given a 10-1 quote by Paddy Power for the Champion Bumper in March but whether he runs there sounds debateable at present.

Elliott said: “He’s a big galloping horse. A horse for next year, a fine big horse. Look he is a horse to go jumping in the future to be honest. He won’t jump a hurdle this year, he jumps well at home but is a horse for next year.”

Gavin Cromwell has had an excellent start to 2023 – barring the news that dual Stayers’ Hurdle winner Flooring Porter has met with a setback – and registered another winner through Limerick Lace in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Rated Novice Chase.

The JP McManus-owned mare was sent off the 8-11 favourite and had little trouble in seeing off Irish Blaze by eight lengths.

“I’m pleased with that and it is grand to get her to win one,” said Cromwell.

“I’m not sure where we go from here to be honest. I suppose you would love to pick up a bit of black-type along the way.

“Yes, potentially (there is a nice handicap in her) and she will stay further.”

The Gradual Slope (7-2) set up a trip to the Dublin Racing Festival with a narrow win over Marelly in the Franciscan Well Rated Novice Hurdle.

Winning trainer Sean O’Brien said: “I was down on the track and Gordon (Elliott) said that the outside horse (Marelly) had got up! Cian (Quirke) was very confident he got up.

“He will go for the three-mile handicap at Leopardstown (Dublin Racing Festival). He’ll obviously get in just right. Three miles is a bit of an unknown for him, but it is definitely worth a crack.”

Also on the card, the 14-year-old Wee Small Hours (6-1) won for the first time over fences and for the first time since January 2018 in the Aspall Handicap Chase.