Gordon Elliott would like to run four in the Randox Grand National as he searches for a fourth win in the race.
Elliott famously trained Tiger Roll to back-to-back successes in 2018 and 2019, having already tasted glory with Silver Birch in 2007 before he had even trained a winner in Ireland.
This year his team is smaller than in recent seasons, with Conflated, Fil Dor, Coko Beach and potentially Three Card Brag lining up.
“I think we’ll get four into it. Conflated is near the top,” said Elliott.
“Look, he’s got plenty of weight and would he stay the trip would be a worry.
“Coko Beach has a good chance, he’d be a great spin for somebody to get, again the trip might be a worry.
“Fil Dor, I like him. I think if the ground is soft he could run very well.
“Three Card Brag is probably the one unexposed horse in the race. He needs three or four to come out still to get in, but if he gets in he could run well.”
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There is a “small chance” Brighterdaysahead will contest the William Hill Aintree Hurdle, as connections eye an immediate bounce back from her Champion Hurdle disappointment.
Gordon Elliott and owners Gigginstown House Stud dared for greatness at Prestbury Park when after two thrilling victories over State Man on home soil they pitched their star mare into a mouthwatering Champion Hurdle.
What unfolded had to be seen to be believed with both the heavy favourite Constitution Hill and defending champion State Man falling and Brighterdaysahead failing to give her true running and wilting tamely in the home straight, as Jeremy Scott’s Golden Ace scorched to victory in the day one feature.
Brighterdaysahead on the gallops at Cheltenham (David Davies/PA)
It was the second time Brighterdaysahead had failed to sparkle at the Cheltenham Festival, but she could be given the chance of immediate redemption before the season ends.
“Hopefully we have found something that might have caused her to run poorly, hopefully she is over that now and that just wasn’t her, it was an odd run,” said Gigginstown’s Eddie O’Leary.
“We’ll have to see what happens and there is a small chance she will make Liverpool.
“The Champion Hurdle run just wasn’t her and from the word go she just wasn’t happy. We’re happy enough there was a small issue so hopefully we have that sorted out now.”
Brighterdaysahead thrived at Aintree last year (David Davies for the Jockey Club/PA)
Brighterdaysahead silenced the doubters with a dazzling display on Grand National day last year and a liking for racing left-handed makes a step up in trip at Aintree to race over the same course-and-distance she relished 12 months ago the preferred option.
“She is better off going left-handed. If it’s not Liverpool she will have to go the other way round at Punchestown,” continued O’Leary.
“It would be in the two-and-a-half-mile race at Liverpool. We’d prefer to go left-handed, but it would be up to her. If she’s well and flying again then that’s grand, but if not we can go to Punchestown.”
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Gordon Elliott put his difficult Cheltenham week behind him and celebrated St Patrick’s Day with an across-the-card six-timer at Down Royal and Wexford.
Elliott had to wait until the final race of the Festival to get off the mark when Wodhooh was successful in the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle.
He had no such trouble at Wexford though, as Speculatrix (11-4) was his first winner of the day in the Wexford Mares Maiden Hurdle under Jordan Gainford.
Assistant trainer Ian “Busty” Almond said: “Speculatrix was unlucky a couple of days where she had races won and ended up on the ground. She jumped well today and has just been unlucky.”
With Jack Kennedy taking some time to recuperate having rushed back for Cheltenham, Danny Gilligan, who enjoyed a Cheltenham double on Wodhooh and Jazzy Matty, was the beneficiary.
Timmy Tuesday (9-4 favourite) was a relatively easy winner of the Albert Bartlett Triple Crown Series At Punchestown Festival 2025 Qualifier Novice Handicap Hurdle at Down Royal.
“Timmy Tuesday has a little bit of a mind of his own but put his best foot forward today and didn’t do a whole pile wrong. He had plenty of weight on his back, but he put in a lovely round of jumping,” said Gilligan, who quickly doubled up on Cher Tara (7-1) in the Powered By Bluegrass Handicap Hurdle.
Favori De Champdou (5-6 favourite) then proved a class apart in the feature Bluegrass Stamm 30 Chase, beating stablemate Jumping Jet.
“Hopefully he’ll go back into the bigger handicaps now and, with a bit of luck, should pick up one or two of them,” said Gilligan of the winner.
The jockey then made it four on the day for himself with Elliott’s Lightkeeper (3-1) in the Bluegrass Horse Feed Rated Novice Chase.
The trainer’s final winner came in the Wexford bumper when 6-5 favourite Theflyingking just held off Thedeviluno in the hands of Harry Swan.
Gordon Elliott had to wait until the final race of the 2025 Cheltenham Festival to get a win on the board, but Wodhooh ensured he would not go home empty-handed with a clear-cut verdict in the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle.
It has been a trying week for the Cullentra handler, with a string of placed efforts and notable near-misses with The Yellow Clay in Wednesday’s Turners Novices’ Hurdle, Stellar Story in the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase and Teahupoo, whose Stayers’ Hurdle defence was scuppered by Bob Olinger on Thursday.
The race named in honour of former trainer Pipe holds a special place in Elliott’s heart as he rode for Pond House during his spell in the saddle and counts him as a key mentor in his training career.
Having won the contest three times previously, with Champagne Classic (2017), Blow By Blow (2018) and Better Days Ahead (2024), Elliott fielded five contenders this time around, with the Danny Gilligan-ridden Wodhooh sent off a 9-2 chance.
With Gilligan also seeking a repeat having partnered Better Days Ahead, he rode a confident race and Wodhooh could be called the winner from some way out, having plenty in reserve to see off the late charge of Act Of Authority by four and a quarter lengths.
Elliott – twice previously champion trainer at the showpiece meeting – was notably emotional following the victory, acknowledging a “really tough week” in the Cotswolds.
“I think we’ve had five or six (second places) to be honest. They’ve been running well, but it’s heartbreaking for all my staff and my owners,” Elliott told Racing TV.
“I’m a strong man and I love training horses for the owners I have and the staff I have.
“She’s owned by a lot of good friends of mine and there’ll be great celebrations in the ring. I know a lot of them.
“This is special, we’ve had a really tough week, all the horses have run well.”
Elliott’s former assistant trainer Olly Murphy sent out the second and while he could have stomached defeat at the hands of his former assistant, he was thrilled to strike again in the Pipe race.
He added: “Olly Murphy was second and if I was beaten I wouldn’t have minded being beaten by him.
“To finish the week off like this, to win the Martin Pipe – he’s my hero.
“We’ve had a tough week, but I won’t lie down.”
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Gordon Elliott could be on the lookout for two jockeys on Thursday, after both Jack Kennedy and Sam Ewing were stood down at Cheltenham on Wednesday.
Kennedy only recently returned from his sixth broken leg on March 3 and had his first winner five days later.
He had six rides on Tuesday and had a second and a third from three mounts on Wednesday before failing to come out for his ride in the Cross Country Chase, a race which Ewing, due to have three rides tomorrow, also did not ride in.
Kennedy is scheduled to partner the favourite, Teahupoo, in the Stayers’ Hurdle on what will be day three of the Festival.
Elliott said: “Jack is sore. He thought it wouldn’t be fair, he wouldn’t be able to do the horses justice. We’re hoping he’ll be OK for the morning. I presume he’ll need to pass the doctor.
“Sam is very sore and has gone to get checked out.”
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Gordon Elliott is confident Teahupoo is better than ever ahead of his defence of the Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle on day three of the Cheltenham Festival.
The eight-year-old came home three and three-quarter lengths clear of Flooring Porter at Prestbury Park last year and followed that up with another Grade One success when landing the Punchestown Festival equivalent six weeks later.
He enjoyed a 213-day break after that double and on his reappearance in December was beaten into second by Lossiemouth in Fairyhouse’s Hatton’s Grace Hurdle – a race in which he had edged out Impaire Et Passe by a length a year previously.
Elliott said: “He’s been brilliant and I think his form going into the race this year is probably better than last year – getting beat by Lossiemouth I think is better form than just beating Impaire Et Passe the year before.
“The race wasn’t really run to suit him in Fairyhouse this year, the tempo of the race and giving 7lb to Lossiemouth. I felt it was a better run than the previous year myself.
“It is a bit frustrating not to be running him more often as I like to get my horses out and let people see them, but I suppose when you’re running over that distance, you kind of have to pick and choose your battles. And when you did it last year and it worked, why would you break it?”
Teahupoo’s stablemate The Wallpark is another Elliott fancies to get in the money.
The seven-year-old reeled off four straight victories last year, which included beating Gowel Road into second place at Cheltenham in October.
He finished fourth behind Crambo last time out at Ascot in the Long Walk Hurdle just before Christmas and Elliott said: “I honestly think he’s got a big each-way chance.
“I think he’ll love the track and a fast gallop will suit him. If you watch him in Ascot the last day, he’ll have learned a lot as it was his first run in a Grade One and the best bit of it was from the last to the line.
“To win the Stayers’ Hurdle, there’s a lot of running from the second-last to the line and if he got rolling, he wouldn’t be out of it.”
Home By The Lee was third behind Teahupoo at both Cheltenham and Punchestown last season and after two wins over the winter, Joseph O’Brien said: “He has looked as good as ever this year and I think his run the last day is right up there with some of his career-best efforts.
“We’re excited to go back. He’s been a fantastic servant to his owners and he’s not finished yet.”
Nicky Henderson’s Lucky Place has won both his starts this season, including getting the better of Gowel Road in the Relkeel Hurdle last time out.
Henderson said: “He’s been very good over two-mile-five at both Ascot and Cheltenham and he’s just improving. He finished fourth in the Coral Cup last year as a novice and he was about the only horse of mine that even ran a race at Cheltenham last year. I’m hopeful, but it is going to be tough.”
Gowel Road will look to follow up on his win in the Cleeve Hurdle and assistant trainer Willy Twiston-Davies said: “He looks in good form and he’s Mr Consistency around Cheltenham.
“It seems silly to rule him out, but whether he has the class to win at his age and having been beaten in handicaps, we will see. If he could place, it would be fantastic – and anything better, then brilliant.”
Bob Olinger is twice a Festival winner and will as ever be partnered by Rachael Blackmore for Henry de Bromhead, with the 10-year-old looking to break a sequence of four runner-up finishes.
De Bromhead said: “Bob Olinger ran really well at Christmas and was just beaten by a better horse on the day (Home By The Lee). I thought we’d beat him after Navan and I was disappointed, but that’s it.
“He’s got a great record around Cheltenham and has been aimed towards the spring, so he should be really fresh and well.”
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The New Lion and Final Demand put their unbeaten records on the line when they go head to head in the Turners Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham on Wednesday.
The New Lion won a Market Rasen bumper on his solitary start last season before being switched to timber for the current campaign.
He has taken that in his stride and is three from three for Dan Skelton this season and was so impressive when he won the Challow Hurdle at Newbury in December that he was snapped up by JP McManus and will be making his debut in the famous green and gold hoops at Prestbury Park.
After those three victories without serious challenge, Skelton was asked if he would have liked to have seen The New Lion have more hard-fought battles in readiness for the Festival.
He replied: “No, not really! That other side to him is there – don’t you worry!
“The season has gone beautifully. We really liked him before he ran in his bumper and obviously we liked him even more after. When we started schooling on the grass in the autumn he just did some things that other horses couldn’t do at that point.
“I don’t know why. His brain, his ability – it was all there to see. He’s just got it and it’s hard to explain why he has it and others don’t, but he just has that relaxed, easy way about him. We love him.”
Asked if he could see The New Lion becoming a future Champion Hurdle contender, Skelton replied: “I don’t want to be one of those who puts the cart before the horse and start worrying about next year in a presumptuous manner, but I can see him coming back in trip. I don’t ever see us going to three miles unless results dictate that that’s the only way we have to go.”
After cantering home in a point-to-point, the Willie Mullins-trained Final Demand has barely had to get out of first gear in comfortably winning at Limerick and the Dublin Racing Festival.
Mullins has one eye on the larger obstacles with the Walk In The Park gelding, but is targeting the Grade One prize before turning his attention to chasing.
The master of Closutton said: “Looking at him, he looks a real chaser. He must be 17.2, he’s as strong as any horse I’ve had. Strength wise, he probably looks more like Florida Pearl, he’s so strong through the body whereas Galopin Des Champs is a very different type of horse, he’s much more evenly balanced through the body and a lighter-framed individual.
“This fellow is a big unit and I’m happy to do that (the Turners) before going novice chasing next season.”
The Yellow Clay will also be putting an unbeaten record over hurdles on the line following a victory at Down Royal, plus a pair of triumphs at Navan and another success at Naas.
The Gordon Elliott-trained son of Yeats was sixth of 19 on his only previous visit to Cheltenham in the Champion Bumper last season, and the trainer said: “He’s not flashy and probably doesn’t get the attention he deserves.
“He ran very well in the Champion Bumper last year and was second in Punchestown. He’s four from four over hurdles, he knows how to win and he’s got a good attitude. He’s a horse I like.
“You’ve got the Skelton horse that looks good and Willie’s horse that beat Wingmen (Final Demand). The Yellow Clay beat Wingmen, so on form there’s not much between them.
“The Yellow Clay showed a bit of boot from the fourth-last to the second-last which I was happy to see. Going into that I thought he might be a three-miler, but he showed that bit of speed that good horses need to win.”
Potters Charm has two victories and a silver medal from three previous trips to Cheltenham and assistant trainer Willy Twiston-Davies said: “I’m hoping he will be back to his best and his work has been good, but you never know until you get to the course.
“He’s had a good bit of racing this season, but his last piece of work was good.”
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Gordon Elliott is confident Brighterdaysahead has what it takes to serve it up to Constitution Hill in the Unibet Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham on Tuesday.
Not many would have had the Gigginstown House Stud-owned mare down as a genuine contender for the two-mile crown in the autumn, but back-to-back defeats of Willie Mullins’ reigning champion State Man – and in particular her 30 length demolition job at Leopardstown over Christmas – put her right in the mix.
After toying with the idea of taking the perceived easier option of the Mares’ Hurdle, connections confirmed last week they would roll the dice and bid for Champion Hurdle glory with a six-year-old who is held in the highest esteem by her trainer.
The real deal.
A classy G1 triumph for Brighterdaysahead in the @NevilleHotels Hurdle ✨
“I’m not going to say she’s the best I’ve trained because I’d be telling you a lie, but she knows how to win and that’s what you want, isn’t it?,” said the Cullentra House handler.
“She’s been good over two and a half miles, but was impressive the last day over two miles.
“I just decided to miss the Irish Champion Hurdle because we started off early in Down Royal and we’ve had three runs, so we didn’t need to have four before Cheltenham. I just thought I’d freshen her up.
“I always thought she was very good and I always said from day one what I thought of her.”
Gordon Elliott (right) with Brighterdaysahead at Leopardstown (Damien Eagers/PA)
Brighterdaysahead has been beaten only once in 10 outings to date and that was at last year’s Festival when third behind the reopposing Golden Ace as an odds-on favourite for the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle.
Elliott has no track concerns, though, as he blames himself for that defeat.
He added: “She only had one blip and that was in Cheltenham last year and that was my fault because I said to Jack (Kennedy) ‘don’t set the race up for Paul Townend (riding Jade De Grugy)’ and Willie probably said the same thing to Paul. The two of them seemed to look at each other and something went by both of them like a bullet.
“I always go back to what Jack Kennedy said to me, that she doesn’t quicken she just gallops. She’s got a cruising speed and when she gets into it it’s hard to stop her – she’s a relentless galloper I suppose would be the term to use.”
While no match for Constitution Hill two years ago, State Man did emerge victorious in his absence last season and is back to defend his title.
State Man (left) winning last year’s Champion Hurdle (Mike Egerton/PA)
The chestnut suffered successive defeats to Brighterdaysahead before winning his third Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown last month, but how much can be garnered from that victory is questionable given his stablemate Lossiemouth crashed out four flights from home.
Mullins has decided to fit his charge with cheekpieces for his return to the Cotswolds, telling Racing TV at Cheltenham on Monday morning: “I just put them on him last week during work and we were very happy with it.
“He’s an older horse who has been running since he was three and he’s lazy, isn’t he? When Lossiemouth fell (at Leopardstown) he didn’t do anything, he just thought he wasn’t in a race.
“He was always laid-back and only ever beats what he has to beat – he never goes and wins by 10 lengths. He’s a horse with a lot more ability I think than people think he has, so we’ll find out.”
Golden Ace winning last year’s Mares Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham (David Davies/The Jockey Club)
Jeremy Scott could easily have taken the Mares’ Hurdle option with his stable star Golden Ace, but connections have ultimately decided to shoot for Champion Hurdle glory.
After beating Brighterdaysahead 12 months ago, the seven-year-old plundered a Listed prize in April and while she was beaten on her first two starts of the current campaign, she returned to winning form with victory over the reopposing Burdett Road in last month’s Kingwell Hurdle at Wincanton.
Scott subsequently revealed Golden Ace had suffered a minor muscle injury in that Grade Two contest, but is confident she is fully tuned up for her return to Prestbury Park.
He said: “I’m very happy with her. We’re going in relatively as good as I could have her actually, so I’m delighted with her.
“The way she went about it (Wincanton) was not the manner I thought she would, so all she looked to do that day was gallop and stay and didn’t look to have a lot of pace.
“Slight trepidation in that they are going to go a very good gallop, but I’m hoping on good ground that cruising speed will return to her on that sort of ground.
“The decision came down to the owner. He desperately wanted to have a runner in the Champion Hurdle. He believes the best form has been over two miles and we should give her the opportunity.”
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Defending champion Teahupoo heads a list of 20 remaining entries in Thursday’s Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle at Cheltenham as he looks to join an illustrious list of multiple winners.
Big Buck’s leads the way with four wins in the three-mile Grade One, Inglis Drever claimed three victories and the likes of Crimson Embers, Galmoy, Baracouda and Flooring Porter did not stop at one success.
Teahupoo powered up the Prestbury Park hill to deny Flooring Porter 12 months ago and followed up with an equally dominant display at the Punchestown Festival.
This season, he has again had just a solitary previous outing, when finishing second to Lossiemouth in the Hatton’s Grace at Fairyhouse at the start of December.
His trainer Gordon Elliott, who also struck with Sire Du Berlais in 2023, is set to field another fancied runner in The Wallpark, who was bought by JP McManus before his run of four straight wins ended with fourth place in the Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot.
Crambo retained his title that day by edging out Hiddenvalley Lake but Fergal O’Brien’s charge must now prove he can handle the undulations of Cheltenham, having finished ninth here last year and a well-beaten fifth of six in the Cleeve Hurdle.
Nigel Twiston-Davies’ Gowel Road and the Paul Nicholls-trained Monmiral finished ahead of Crambo here on Trials Day and are in line to reoppose.
Nicky Henderson claimed this prize with Rustle in 1989 and Bacchanal in 2000 and will try to add to his tally with Lucky Place, who was fourth in the Coral Cup as a novice last season and has made good progress this term.
He steps up in trip after picking up Grade Two wins in the Ascot Hurdle and the Relkeel at this course, getting the better of Gowel Road here on New Year’s Day.
Joseph O’Brien’s Home By The Lee was third behind Teahupoo at Cheltenham and Punchestown last year but is unbeaten this winter, scoring at Navan and in the Grade One Savills Hurdle at Leopardstown, with Bob Olinger back in second on both occasions.
Dan Skelton is hoping the Cheltenham Festival can again bring out the best in dual Coral Cup winner Langer Dan after a disappointing campaign so far.
Ladbrokes ambassador Skelton said: “The thing that people ask me most in the build-up to the festival is ‘how’s Langer Dan?’.
“He’s got his own following for a lot of reasons. But, yeah, people who know their racing, that’s the first thing they ask me around Cheltenham – which is quite entertaining really.
“I wish he knew that everyone was so interested in him…he might start showing a bit more! We’ll see; hopefully he comes alive next week, as he normally does, but with his work at home, we just have to trust him.”
Last year’s Supreme runner-up Mystical Power, who went on to secure Grade One success at Aintree and Punchestown as a novice but has flopped twice this term, could represent Willie Mullins, along with outsider Winter Fog.
Galmoy Hurdle winner Rocky’s Diamond is still engaged for Declan Queally, along with Kerry Lee’s Nemean Lion, who completed a hat-trick this term with a gutsy strike in the National Spirit Hurdle at Fontwell.
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Ruby Walsh is backing Gordon Elliott’s “spectacular” mare Brighterdaysahead to give Constitution Hill a real run for his money in the Unibet Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham next week.
Constitution Hill is odds-on across the board to regain his title in the Festival’s opening day feature, but in Brighterdaysahead he will face a new and serious rival.
The six-year-old is unbeaten since suffering her sole defeat to date at Cheltenham last season and left last year’s Champion Hurdle hero, the Willie Mullins-trained State Man, trailing in her wake when producing a devastating display at Leopardstown’s Christmas meeting.
Brighterdaysahead blitzed her rivals at Leopardstown over Christmas (Damien Eagers/PA)
Walsh, who won two Champion Hurdles on Hurricane Fly and enjoyed further victories aboard Faugheen and Annie Power, believes Brighterdaysahead will be a major player on Tuesday.
“She blew me away in Leopardstown – I was watching it thinking, you’re going too fast, you’re going too fast, you’re going too fast, the whole way,” he said.
“And all of a sudden, they were going too fast for the pacemaker, he falls in a hole going to the third-last, King Of Kingsfield, the next minute the mare picks up, heads to the second-last and away off the bend again.
“You’re thinking ‘she can’t’ and she did and she kept doing it. Take out whatever way you read the race as in were the rest of them sharp enough at the start or why didn’t they follow her, (but) when you just watch what she did, to me that was the best performance I’ve seen over hurdles in Leopardstown in a long, long time. It’s the one hurdle performance this year that you went ‘Jesus’.”
Ruby Walsh celebrates winning the Champion Hurdle with Annie Power (Mike Egerton/PA)
Brighterdaysahead and her pacesetting stablemate King Of Kingsfield dominated from flag-fall at Leopardstown. On whether similar tactics can be replicated at Cheltenham, Walsh added: “No, it’s a more undulating track so it’s whatever way you look at it, how far do you think King Of Kingsfield will bring Brighterdaysahead? How far do you think he needs to bring Brighterdaysahead?
“I think King Of Kingsfield will bring her to the fourth-last in the Champion Hurdle. She’ll take it off him as they rise up on to the top of the hill and it’ll be what the crowd want from there home.
“Nico (de Boinville, on Constitution Hill) will be on their tail, I hope two of Willie’s (State Man and Lossiemouth) are right behind them and it’ll be whoever wins from there.
“But I think you’ll have some running done when you get past her.”
Walsh – speaking as Paddy Power hosted a top panel at ‘The Ultimate Cheltenham 2025 Preview Night’ – made every yard of the running when steering Annie Power to Champion Hurdle glory in 2016 and is expecting Jack Kennedy to employ similarly positive tactics.
Constitution Hill is facing a serious rival in Brighterdaysahead, says Ruby Walsh (David Davies for The Jockey Club)
He said: “Obviously with the undulations in Cheltenham there are places where you have to up the ante and there are places where you have to slow a little bit, but I know when I went out to ride Annie Power, I was thinking about the way that Dawn Run was ridden.
“She just went flat out from the word go and galloped them into the ground and I was hell-bent on doing that on Annie Power and I think this mare could do the same thing. I just think she’s spectacular.”
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Brighterdaysahead is firmly on course for the Unibet Champion Hurdle at next week’s Cheltenham Festival after delighting trainer Gordon Elliott in a post racing workout at Leopardstown.
The Cullentra House handler confirmed on Monday morning that his star mare would go up against the boys in the opening day feature at Prestbury Park, rather than take the perceived easier option of the Mares’ Hurdle on the same card.
Brighterdaysahead was one of several Elliott-trained runners bound for Cheltenham to stretch their legs after the final National Hunt meeting of the season at Leopardstown and looked the part as she passed the post in front of several stablemates under the returning Jack Kennedy.
— Irishracing.com Live (@IrishRacing365) March 3, 2025
“Brighterdaysahead, very happy. She looked brilliant and galloped very well,” Elliott said afterwards.
“It’s good for the public that she’s going for the Champion Hurdle and we’re very happy.
“We’re going there with a live chance, I think it’s good for racing and it will be one of the races of the week, so we’re looking forward to it.”
Others to strut their stuff at the Foxrock circuit included Supreme Novices’ Hurdle contender Romeo Coolio, the defending Stayers’ Hurdle champion Teahupoo and Found A Fifty, who looks set to throw his hat in the Queen Mother Champion Chase ring.
Teahupoo and Jack Kennedy winning last year’s Stayers’ Hurdle (David Davies/The Jockey Club)
Elliott added: “Romeo Coolio I was happy with, I thought Firefox worked well and Kala Conti and Ndaawi both worked well.
“I was very happy with Wodhooh and The Yellow Clay and Found A Fifty actually worked well and will probably run in the Champion Chase. At a massive price, he could have an each-way chance.
“Teahupoo I was very happy with and The Wallpark worked very well. Ballybow galloped and Galvin and Better Days Ahead I was very happy with. All the bumper horses galloped well, too.
“The two horses jumped over fences, Dee Capo and Stellar Story, and both of them jumped well.”
Brighterdaysahead will take on Constitution Hill at Cheltenham (Damien Eagers/PA)
Brighterdaysahead has been beaten just once in her 10-race career and will head for the Cotswolds after notching back-to-back Grade One victories in the Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown in November and Leopardstown’s Neville Hotels Hurdle at Christmas.
She beat last year’s Champion Hurdle hero State Man by three-quarters of a length on the first occasion and that rival was left toiling in December, as Brighterdaysahead had him over 31 lengths away in third.
Elliott and owner Gigginstown House Stud had been left with a dilemma regarding her Festival target, but in a statement posted on www.gordonelliottracing.com, the trainer said: “I can confirm that Brighterdaysahead will be going for the Unibet Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham.
“After talking it over with Michael and Eddie (O’Leary), we decided that we would take up the option of the Champion Hurdle.
“Obviously, it’s going to be a huge test for the mare but she’s in great shape, her preparation has gone superbly and she’s in great order.
“We’ve never won a Champion Hurdle and it is great to have a challenger for one of National Hunt racing’s most iconic races, so it’s something we are greatly looking forward to.”
Constitution Hill during a racecourse gallop at Kempton last week (Adam Morgan/PA)
Coral clipped Brighterdaysahead to 2-1 second favourite from 9-4 for the Champion Hurdle, with Constitution Hill heading the market at 8-13, having been eased slightly from 1-2 following the news that Elliott’s mare will run.
Lossiemouth is next best on the list at 4-1, although she is now the 4-6 favourite for the Mares’ Hurdle in Brighterdaysahead’s absence.
“Brighterdaysahead absolutely deserves her place in this year’s Champion Hurdle field, so credit to her connections for opting to take on the challenge. She’s the clear second favourite for the race, and while Constitution Hill remains odds-on to regain his crown, the presence of the mare has undoubtedly made his task harder,” said the firm’s David Stevens.
Jack Kennedy was pleased to get in some crucial match practice ahead of next week’s Cheltenham Festival after picking up minor honours on his first two rides back after injury at Leopardstown on Monday.
The 25-year-old had been sidelined since breaking his leg for a sixth time in a fall at Fairyhouse in late November, but was given the green light to return to the saddle last Friday.
Kennedy finished third on his comeback ride aboard Gordon Elliott’s Arabian Diamond and then jumped on his stablemate Qualimita, who was an 8-11 favourite to provide the champion jockey with a welcome winner in the 1888 Restaurant Mares Maiden Hurdle.
The six-year-old was left in front after the pacesetting Glens Lullaby crashed out in the back straight, but tired on the run to the final flight and ultimately picked up the silver medal behind clear-cut winner Barnahash Primrose.
“The leg feels good and the fitness is good. I’m a bit disappointed not to get a winner there, but it’s great to be back,” said Kennedy.
“Today was a good starting point. There’s a couple of entries in Thurles (on Thursday) and I’m sure I’ll be in Gowran and Naas over the weekend. We’ll tip away and see how we get on.”
When asked how important it was to get some rides before the Festival, he added: “Very important. I’m fit enough, but just to get the eye back in and get back into the swing of things is very important.”
Brighterdaysahead with jockey Jack Kennedy at Punchestown (Damian Eagers/PA)
Barring any further setbacks, Kennedy can look forward to a strong book of rides at Prestbury Park, not least Brighterdaysahead, who earlier on Monday was confirmed for a mouthwatering clash with Constitution Hill in the Unibet Champion Hurdle.
His other likely mounts include the defending Stayers’ Hurdle champion Teahupoo, plus The Yellow Clay and Romeo Coolio, who are bound for the Turners and Supreme Novices’ Hurdle contests respectively.
Kennedy added: “To be going there with a live chance in a Champion Hurdle is very exciting, fingers crossed we’ll go well anyway.
“She looks great, Gordon is very happy with her and Shane McCann (work rider) is very happy with her – and when they’re happy, I’m happy.
Jack Kennedy celebrates winning the 2024 Stayers’ Hurdle on Teahupoo (David Davies/The Jockey Club)
“I’ve sat on Teahupoo a couple of times since I started back riding out and he’s in good form. I’m looking forward to riding him as well.
“The Yellow Clay is a grand, unassuming horse who doesn’t show you a whole pile at home and then he gets to the racecourse and is very good. You like them that way and he’s going from strength to strength, so hopefully he keeps going that way.
“Romeo Coolio is very good as well and I think people have kind of forgotten about him a little bit since Willie’s horse (Kopek Des Bordes) won here at the Dublin Racing Festival. I think he could be going in under the radar a little bit.”
Kennedy has also identified his likely Champion Bumper ride in the form of dual winner Kalypso’chance.
He said: “If I get the pick of them, I’d probably pick him. He’s another that wouldn’t show you a whole pile at home and then he gets to the racecourse and comes alive.”
https://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/278285645-scaled.jpg12802560Geegeez Newshttps://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/geegeez_banner_new_170x78.pngGeegeez News2025-03-03 15:13:502025-03-03 15:13:50Jack Kennedy out of luck on return but hoping for Brighterdaysahead
Brighterdaysahead will contest the Unibet Champion Hurdle at next week’s Cheltenham Festival.
The Gordon Elliott-trained mare has been beaten just once in her 10-race career and will head to Prestbury Park after notching back-to-back Grade One victories in the Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown in November and Leopardstown’s Neville Hotels Hurdle at Christmas.
She beat last year’s Champion Hurdle hero State Man by three-quarters of a length on the first occasion and that rival was left toiling in December, as Brighterdaysahead had him over 31 lengths away in third.
Elliott and owner Gigginstown House Stud had been left with the dilemma of contesting the Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle, for which Brighterdaysahead was a hot favourite, or tackling Constitution Hill in the main event, with the latter option now her confirmed target.
Brighterdaysahead will take on Constitution Hill at Cheltenham (Damien Eagers/PA)
The trainer told www.gordonelliottracing.com: “I can confirm that Brighterdaysahead will be going for the Unibet Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham. After talking it over with Michael and Eddie (O’Leary), we decided that we would take up the option of the Champion Hurdle.
“Obviously it’s going to be a huge test for the mare but she’s in great shape, her preparation has gone superbly and she’s in great order.
“We’ve never won a Champion Hurdle and it is great to have a challenger for one of National Hunt racing’s most iconic races, so it’s something we are greatly looking forward to.”
Constitution Hill during a racecourse gallop at Kempton last week (Adam Morgan/PA)
Coral clipped Brighterdaysahead to 2-1 second favourite from 9-4 for the Champion Hurdle, with Constitution Hill heading the market as 8-13, having been eased slightly from 1-2 following the news that Elliott’s mare will run.
Lossiemouth is next best on the list at 4-1, although she is now the 4-6 favourite for the Mares’ Hurdle in Brighterdaysahead’s absence.
“Brighterdaysahead absolutely deserves her place in this year’s Champion Hurdle field, so credit to her connections for opting to take on the challenge. She’s the clear second favourite for the race, and while Constitution Hill remains odds-on to regain his crown, the presence of the mare has undoubtedly made his task harder,” said the firm’s David Stevens.
https://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/277915029-scaled.jpg12802560Geegeez Newshttps://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/geegeez_banner_new_170x78.pngGeegeez News2025-03-03 08:06:372025-03-03 08:25:13Brighterdaysahead confirmed for Champion Hurdle bid
Gordon Elliott is counting down the days until the Cheltenham Festival as he prepares to send another formidable squad from Cullentra House to the Cotswolds.
The County Meath trainer will return to Prestbury Park with 40 Festival winners under his belt, putting him joint-fourth on the all-time list alongside Fulke Walwyn, behind Willie Mullins, Nicky Henderson and Paul Nicholls.
Elliott is the only man to deny Mullins the leading trainer title at the meeting in the last dozen years, taking that particular honour in both 2017 and 2018, with six and eight winners respectively.
With top-class mare Brighterdaysahead and reigning Stayers’ Hurdle champion Teahupoo leading a team that also includes promising novices Romeo Coolio and The Yellow Clay, there is little wonder he cannot wait to head back across the Irish Sea for the biggest week of the year.
Gordon Elliott with Brighterdaysahead and connections at Leopardstown (Damien Eagers/PA)
When asked how he was feeling ahead of what is widely viewed as a season-defining four days for those at the top of the game, Elliott said: “I blow hot and cold. If I get revved up, 30 seconds later I’ll be grand.
“I don’t get too nervous until the horses go to the start for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, then you’ll start getting the butterflies in your stomach. I do anyway, that’s the way I am.
“I can’t wait to get there – and to get one winner would be great and anything after that is a bonus. I know it’s disappointing if you only have one winner, but you see what happened to Nicky Henderson last year and that can happen to anyone.”
Elliott had to be patient in his bid for Festival success last season, going two and a half days without a winner before Teahupoo hit the bullseye on day three.
— CheltenhamRacecourse (@CheltenhamRaces) March 14, 2024
In the end, he finished the meeting with three winners after Stellar Story’s Albert Bartlett triumph and Better Days Ahead’s verdict in the concluding Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Hurdle gave him a Gold Cup day double.
“I love winning anywhere, no matter where it is, but to have a winner in Cheltenham is just extra special, no matter who you are. Whether you’re Willie Mullins or the man that’s only ever trained one winner, it’s a brilliant feeling,” Elliott continued.
“Last year, I think we had six or seven seconds before Teahupoo won. The horses weren’t running bad, they were running out of their skins, but your horses can be running out of their skins in Cheltenham and you still need an awful lot of luck as well.
“It’s nearly a relief just when they’re running well because we’ve all been there when you have a day when everything is falling out of the back of the screen and you’re thinking ‘oh Jesus’. You’d have the weight of the world on your shoulders.
“We just weren’t getting the rub of the green last year, but thankfully Teahupoo put his head in front and that was a relief.”
Jack Kennedy and Teahupoo after winning last year’s Stayers’ Hurdle at Cheltenham (Mike Egerton/PA)
There have been a raft of changes to the Festival programme this year, including the Turners Novices’ Chase being replaced by a novice handicap and the National Hunt Chase – now permanently named in honour of the Princess Royal – also becoming a novice handicap with the amateur rider restrictions for jockeys removed to allow professionals to take part.
The Glenfarclas Cross County Chase, a race Elliott has won five times in the last seven years, has also been switched from a conditions race to a limited handicap.
While unsure all the changes are positive, the trainer is hungry to win whatever races are on offer.
He added: “When we went to Cheltenham when we were young, I always thought you were going to see the elite and the best of the best. I think they might be getting a little bit close to diluting it.
“But if you told me there’d be 10 days at Cheltenham, I’d be delighted, I’d be there every day and I’d try to have a runner in every race because that’s our job.”
https://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/278575681-scaled.jpg12802560Geegeez Newshttps://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/geegeez_banner_new_170x78.pngGeegeez News2025-03-02 13:05:592025-03-02 13:05:59Elliott hoping Cheltenham luck will be on his side this year
Jack Kennedy has been passed fit to return to action at Leopardstown on Monday.
Gordon Elliott’s stable jockey has been out of action since the end of November when he broke his leg for a sixth time in a beginners’ chase at Fairyhouse.
Kennedy returned to riding out duties at Elliott’s powerful Cullentra base this week and needed to get the all-clear from his surgeon to free him up for the Cheltenham Festival.
Having a Gold Cup win on Minella Indo among his 11 Festival victories, Elliott had repeatedly stated how vital it was to have the 25-year-old among his team of jockeys for the big week.
A statement on www.gordonelliottracing.com read: “Today we learned that 2023/24 champion NH jockey Jack Kennedy has been given the green light to get back to race-riding for Monday in Leopardstown.
“He was passed fit by his surgeon Paddy Kenny this morning and will be a great addition to our Cheltenham team as always.”
https://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/278285645-scaled.jpg12802560Geegeez Newshttps://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/geegeez_banner_new_170x78.pngGeegeez News2025-02-28 09:14:252025-02-28 09:14:25Elliott boosted ahead of Cheltenham by Jack Kennedy return
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