Gordon Elliott has given a positive update on a number of his Cheltenham Festival hopefuls.
The Prestbury Park meeting gets underway four weeks from today, with Elliott responsible for the favourite in a number of races.
Envoi Allen will bid to extend his unbeaten racecourse record to 12 in the Marsh Novices’ Chase, having already won twice at the festival.
“Envoi Allen is in good form,” Elliott told Sky Sports Racing.
“He’s horse who’ll only ever do what he has to do, but he keeps winning and once he keeps doing that, I don’t mind.”
Another horse who has yet to taste defeat since joining Elliott is Triumph Hurdle favourite Zanahiyr.
Following the Grade One success of stable companion Quilixios at Leopardstown, some suggested Zanahiyr could take on his elders in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham, leaving Quilixios to run in the Triumph.
Elliott, however, has quashed that theory, saying: “Zanahiyr is in great form. I don’t know where all the talk of him running in the Supreme came from – I never even suggested it to anyone.
“We gave him an entry to keep our options open, but I took him out of it and he’s definitely going to go for the Triumph.”
Another Cheltenham-bound runner for whom the Cullentra handler holds high hopes is Galvin, who has purposely been kept fresh for the National Hunt Chase since winning at Prestbury Park in October.
Elliott is keeping his fingers crossed Jamie Codd will be able to ride, with all amateurs currently unable to ride under rules in Britain due to coronavirus restrictions.
“Galvin has had a break and will go straight to Cheltenham,” Elliott added.
“He’s got loads of experience and was second in Cheltenham last year over fences. He’s also won there, so he’s got loads of experience around the track, which is a massive help.
“We don’t know if the amateurs are going to be able to ride or not. If they are, that will be a massive game changer for us as you have half a stone up your sleeve straight away when you’ve got one of the good Irish fellas riding.
“Time will tell whether they’ll be able to ride or not, but for them I hope they can, because it’s not nice for them to miss the Festival.”
Whether Samcro will be part of Elliott’s Cheltenham squad remains uncertain.
The nine-year-old has won the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle and the Marsh Novices’ Chase at the Festival, but was pulled up on his latest outing in the Savills Chase at Leopardstown in December.
Elliott said: “Samcro is entered at the weekend (Red Mills Chase at Gowran Park), (but) again the ground will be the worry.
“We’ll probably look at something like the Ryanair Chase with him, but he’s not easy to train.
“He’s very hot and cold – when he’s good he’s good and when he’s bad he’s very bad.”
