Trainer Gordon Elliott outlined his plans for the Cheltenham Festival at a media visit to his yard and plans to run two horses in the Gold Cup,which he won for the first time in 2016 with the now-retired Don Cossack.
Don Poli, a staying-on third to Don Cossack last year, winner of the RSA Chase at The Festival in 2015 and successful in the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys Handicap Hurdle in 2014, will be joined by Outlander, winner of the G1 Lexus Chase at Leopardstown after Christmas when Don Poli was runner-up.
Elliott said: “Don Poli has already had a chance to win the Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup. He is definitely in good form and his last two runs have been good.
“Outlander is the one who looks a bit unexposed. It will be his first time over the trip but the way he will be ridden will suit because we will drop in and take our time.
“To be honest, they are not Don Cossack. He won a Gold Cup by nearly five lengths.
“I think skipping the Irish Gold Cup with Outlander was the right move. We thought it was the right to do that with a view to Cheltenham and Punchestown, as he has had three runs already this season.
“Don Poli has run sweetly the last twice. I am not sure what happened in Down Royal. It was an embarrassment. The way he ran that day he would not have won a point-to-point. He seems to have turned a corner now.
“There is not a lot between the Irish horses in my opinion. I think Outlander and Djakadam are the pick of the Irish horses for the Gold Cup as they are going there fresh.”
Empire Of Dirt, also entered in the Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup, is being switched to the G1 Ryanair Chase over two miles and five furlongs at The Festival.
The 10-year-old was unbeaten in three handicaps during 2016 and started this year off well when runner-up to Sizing John, with Don Poli three quarters of a length in arrears, in the G1 Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown on February 12.
The trainer said: “Empire Of Dirt looks to have a very good chance in the Ryanair Chase. That’s the plan unless something happens to Don Poli or Outlander.”
Elliott is set to be represented in another of the main championship races at The Festival, the Stan James Champion Hurdle, by Tombstone, who needs to be supplemented at the six-day stage.
Tombstone, fourth in the 2016 Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at The Festival, beat the 2014 Champion Hurdler, Jezki, last time out.
Elliott explained: “He will be supplemented for the Stan James Champion Hurdle, providing everything goes right between now and then. It is a very good race, but an open-looking one as well.
“I think he will improve again from Gowran (when winning the G3 Red Mills Trial Hurdle on February 16).
“He is an unexposed horse. I am not saying he is good enough to win a Champion Hurdle, but Petit Mouchoir, who is second or third favourite, was behind us in the Supreme.
“Tombstone was meant to go chasing this season and definitely will next year. Gigginstown buy them to be chasers.”
The trainer spoke about some of his other challengers at The Festival: –
Apple’s Jade – OLBG Mares’ Hurdle: “Limini’s performance the other day didn’t surprise me at all. Apple’s Jade was beaten by a better horse on the day. There were no excuses.
“You would be hoping that a bit better ground and a faster gallop would suit Apple’s Jade in the OLBG Mares’ Hurdle. She did the donkey work at Punchestown which perhaps didn’t suit her.”
Death Duty – Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle: “There is no chance of Death Duty running in the Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle. He is going for the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle. I just think over three miles he can really get into his comfort zone, I think the race is made for him.
“He is a big three-mile chaser in the making. I said from flag fall that this is the race we are going for. There is no doubt about it.
“He has done nothing wrong this year. You can’t knock him. He is the sort of horse who doesn’t do anything flashy. He is very relaxed and laidback. They are normally the best ones.”
Mega Fortune – JCB Triumph Hurdle: “He has won a Grade One and so has Philip Hobbs’ horse. The juveniles are what they are.
“I think riding him positively in cheekpieces will make more of a difference than the ground.
“You wouldn’t think he was Flat-bred horse watching him at home. He is like a three-mile chaser. He wore cheekpieces on the Flat so I thought we would be putting them on at some stage.”
Jury Duty – Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle: “He goes for the Pertemps Final. He won well in Navan and then we were running out of time to get him qualified which is why he went to Chepstow the other day. I think that was the last qualifier.
“He is a horse I am looking forward to running. You need to take your time on him. Jack [Kennedy] hit the front way too soon at the Punchestown Festival last year. He is owned by a great bunch of lads and I hope he runs well for them.”
Diamond King – Brown Advisory & Merriebelle Stable Plate: “He is in great form and goes for the Brown Advisory & Merriebelle Stable Plate rather than the JLT Novices’ Chase.”
Barra – Trull House Stud Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle: “She will go for the Trull House Stud Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle.
“I didn’t think she got home over two miles, two furlongs. She arrived there going to the last and didn’t quite see it out. Hopefully, two miles on better ground at Cheltenham will suit her better.
“The mares’ division looks very strong in Ireland this year. Willie has a very good hand. We took a few of his on with Shattered Love, who could go for the Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle, and I would say the mares’ novice in Cheltenham will be hot.”
Runfordave – multiple entries: “He is in all the handicaps as well as a couple of the novices’ hurdles. He will definitely go for something.
“It will probably all depend on what we have the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Hurdle. He is owned by the same person as The Storyteller, who could go for the Martin Pipe or Coral Cup.”
Tiger Roll – J T McNamara National Hunt Chase: “He goes the J T McNamara National Hunt Chase. You will know after jumping two fences if he is on a going day or an off day.
“He is rated in the 150s in England and I doubt there will be many in the race with a higher rating. He obviously has course form and the trip will be no problem.”