Gordon Elliott goes to Cheltenham with an incredible 52 horses which is testament to his meteoric rise in recent years.
Despite only training his first Festival winner in 2011 with Carlito Brigante, the Meath handler has now tasted 25 successes at the famous meeting.
He will be looking to add to that tally come the second week of March and here is a look at four of his string that could be worth following:
Galvin – Northern Trust Company Novices Handicap – 8/1
Elliott could have a big first day in Cheltenham between Abacadabras in the Supreme and Galvin in the Novice Handicap.
The latter seems to have been laid out for this race and looks to be one of the best handicapped Irish horses heading over to Prestbury Park.
The six-year-old ran in the Ballymore Novice’s Hurdle last year at the Festival, arriving in excellent form having been unbeaten in five starts.
He ran well despite a few sketchy jumps early and stayed on into sixth place at the finish.
He’s taken to fences well in the meantime, coming fourth in a hot beginners chase at Fairyhouse in November.
This form has worked out tremendously well in the interim with the second that day winning a Grade 2 after and the fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth all winning since.
Galvin then faced a difficult task in Punchestown taking on the impressive mare Salsaretta where he ran very creditably, making late progress to grab second in what looks an ideal prep for Chelteham.
The English handicapper was kind to the Ronnie Bartlett-owned gelding, giving him a mark of 142.
This lenient mark, his unexposed profile over fences and the fact we know he acts on the track all points to a massive run and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him go off favourite in this contest.
Envoi Allen – Ballymore Novice’s Hurdle – 11/8
One of the most exciting horses in training rates Elliott’s best chance of a winner all week.
Envoi Allen has been imperious in three starts over hurdles this season, winning each start in commanding fashion beating genuine Grade 1 horses each time.
The Cheveley Park Stud-owned gelding showed his tenacity and willingness to stick his neck out in front in last year’s Champion Bumper coming home ¾ of a length ahead of Blue Sari with the talented pair of Thyme Hill and Abacadabras back in third and fourth respectively.
This year he has looked virtually untouchable, especially in winning the Royal Bond over two miles back in early December.
He comfortably took care of Abacadabras and Champion Hurdle hope Darver Star, cruising around in front and never looking in trouble up the straight.
He stepped up to two and a half miles in the Grade 1 Lawlor’s Novice Hurdle in Naas in early January and took care of a quality field with the minimum of fuss again.
His jumping is absolutely electric for a novice and he ticks every box for this contest.
He loves the track, is trained by a master, has a high cruising speed and will also keep finding and battling up the straight as he did last year.
It’s extremely difficult to knock him and he looks a banker.
Tiger Roll – Cross Country – EVS
Just pipped by Envoi Allen for the title of “Elliott’s best chance of the week” is the heroic Tiger Roll.
There’s not much I can say that has not already been said about this dual Grand National and four-time Cheltenham Festival winner.
An absolute legend of the game and a true great, Tiger Roll is on course for his third consecutive Cross Country title before then going to Aintree and looking for his third Grand National wuccess in a row – genuinely mind-boggling stuff.
The ten-year-old returned this season in the Boyne Hurdle and seemed to travel with particular zest and enthusiasm which would have delighted connections as a warm up for his iconic season ahead.
I think perhaps due to his Aintree exploits afterwards, people seem to forget just how easily he won this race last year – he won in an absolute canter.
The speed with which he motored up the Cheltenham hill to absolutely bolt up truly was something to behold and he will be extremely hard to beat here again.
However, he seems to have superior rivals to contend with this year.
Easysland, a French recruit for JP McManus, looks a talented sort and is on a six-race unbeaten run over the banks and has won at the track.
While the enigmatic pair of Might Bite and Yanworth could run a decent race, should the mood take them.
While no one will get rich backing even money shots in the Cross Country, the Tiger rates a solid one for the multiples as he likely will be in a different league to these providing he gets a clear round.
Eclair De Beaufeu – Grand Annual - 14/1
Elliott has another interesting handicapper running in the Grand Annual over two miles on the Friday with the thriving Eclair De Beaufeu.
This 135 rated hurdler has taken extremely well to fences; coming second to Arkle favourite Notebook on his debut, winning a decent beginners chase in Wexford with any amount in hand and performing respectably in graded races subsequently.
However, he seemed a different horse at the Dublin Racing Festival after a wind operation in a very strong two mile handicap.
A change of tactics seemed to work the oracle in this instance with the horse being ridden more patiently by Sean O’Keefe in comparison to his previous starts where he was forced to be closer to the lead in small field graded races.
Held up in the rear of the field, he started to make steady headway coming to four out before travelling strongly to lead before the last and he powered up to the line in the style of a horse that loves a strong pace to aim at.
That race was run in a particularly good time and seems a very formidable piece of form.
He has ran well at the Festival before, unseating at the final flight in last year’s County Hurdle when in front and likely to be placed.
Again, they used prominent tactics on him in that race but I think after his run in Leopardstown the last day connections will ride him more patiently and he could still be well handicapped despite a 9lb rise.
The relentless pace and demands of a Grand Annual will suit him down to the ground and, at 14/1, he rates a cracking each way bet on the final day of the Festival.
