Following the controversy that unfolded in 2021, Gordon Elliott has been rebuilding his reputation and his stable over the last couple of years.
The Cullentra House Stables trainer was back in the winner’s enclosure three times during the 2023 Cheltenham Festival, most notably winning the Grade 1 Stayers’ Hurdle with outsider Sire Du Berlais.
The early indicators after the first couple of months of the new National Hunt Racing season are all suggesting that Elliott is back at the top of his game and ready to compete for the biggest prizes.
The County Meath-based handler is currently leading the Irish Jump Trainers’ Championship from the force that is Willie Mullins, with prize money already topping €1.5 million.
There’s still a long way to go before the end of the season finales, but it already looks like it could be a very successful season for Elliott.
So, as we watch with plenty of interest to see just how well this season is going to go for Elliott, let’s take a look at some of the big race wins already this year.
Gerri Colombe – Champion Chase
Elliott’s first Grade 1 success of the season, and his most lucrative prize purse of the year thus far, came in the Champion Chase at Down Royal — as Gerri Colombe scooped the €88,500 top prize.
The seven-year-old was the odds-on favourite at 4/7 in the horse racing betting markets, but it didn’t look like he was going to prevail in his first attempt over fences outside of novice company as he dropped back to third two out from the finish.
However, Gerri Colombe stayed on incredibly in the closing stages and took the lead in the final strides to dramatically beat Envoi Allen by a neck.
Gerri Colombe is now the second favourite for the Cheltenham Gold Cup and could reaffirm his chances over the festive period, as he’s got options in the King George VI Chase and the Savills Chase.
Teahupoo – Hatton’s Grace Hurdle
Arguably Elliott’s second-biggest win of the season so far came in the Hatton’s Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse earlier this month, as Teahupoo scored in the €70,800 Grade 1 for the second year running.
The six-year-old is starting to make a name for himself as something as a giant killer, as he ended Impaire Et Passe’s unbeaten streak in the same race he took down the great Honeysuckle 12 months prior.
Willie Mullins’ runner was the 4/5 favourite before the off, but he was locked in a race for the finish with Teahupoo after the last.
Impaire Et Passe had nothing more to give approaching the finish and the defending champion ultimately won by a length.
Farren Glory – Royal Bond Novice Hurdle
On the same day Teahupoo won the Hatton’s Grace Hurdle, Farren Glory made it a Grade 1 double for Elliott and his No.1 rider Jack Kennedy at Fairyhouse.
An Tobar was the favourite for Henry de Bromhead and Rachael Blackmore, but he could fare no better than third as two of Elliott’s runners nabbed the two spots in the horse racing results.
It looked like King Of Kingsfield was going to land the €50,150 top prize, but his connections had to settle for the €16,150 runners-up purse as Farren Glory led inside the final 110 yards and won by over a length.
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As well as his Grade 1 wins, Elliott has won a whole host of Grade 2, Grade 3 and Listed races this season — including the Grade 2 Craddockstown Novice Chase with Imagine and the Grade 3 Feathard Lady Mares Novice Hurdle with Brighterdaysahead.
