Gordon Elliott Christmas update...
American Mike
Paddy Power Future Champions Novice Hurdle, Leopardstown, December 27
He wasn't right at Navan and we found a few issues afterwards. He's entered for the Grade 1 over 2m at Leopardstown but we might give him a bit more time and aim for something around the middle of January instead. He's back in great form but we don't want to rush him. We'll give him time to recover.
Amir Kabir
Paddy Power Future Champions Novice Hurdle, Leopardstown, December 27
He was very good at Listowel but he gave himself a cut from the mistake he made at the second-last and missed a bit of work. He's a nice horse who has surprised a few people and I don't think he's finished winning yet. Leopardstown should suit him.
Andy Dufrense
Paddy's Rewards Club Chase, Leopardstown, December 27
He wasn't beaten far in the Fortria at Navan and the plan was to go to Leopardstown. He ran a big race in the Grand Annual last season and he's always been a nice horse. He might struggle if one of the big guns shows up but I could see him running well.
Conflated
Savills Chase, Leopardstown, December 28
He surprised me with the way he won the Irish Gold Cup last season but he proved it was absolutely no fluke. He's a top horse on his day and I was delighted with his run at Down Royal. He'll come on plenty for that and hopefully he goes to the Savills with a great chance. He's better going left-handed anyway for some reason.
Death Duty
Paddy Power Handicap Chase, Leopardstown, December 27
He's been some servant and he showed he retains plenty of his ability in the Troytown. That was a cracking effort to finish third and he'll head to the Paddy Power. He was fifth in it last season after a big absence so he'll be going into it a sharper horse this time around.
Escaria Ten
Coral Welsh Grand National, Chepstow December 27
He's in the Welsh National and we're strongly considering it. He ran a big race against a race-fit Darasso on his return at Thurles and you'd be hoping he will come on plenty for it.
Fil Dor
Brand New Racing Post App Novice Chase, Leopardstown, December 26
I always thought he might turn out to be a better chaser than hurdler and that's why we decided to send him over fences so early. Riviere D'etel did very well for us last year as a four-year-old and we felt this fella might be able to exploit the allowances four-year-olds get. You'd have to be thrilled with what he did at Navan; he didn't put a foot wrong, and it was always the intention to go straight to Leopardstown after that. You'd hope he has a big chance. He's in great form at home.
Frontal Assault
Paddy Power Handicap Chase, Leopardstown, December 27
We thought we had him ready for the Troytown but Jack Kennedy said he took a good blow, so maybe he wasn't as fit as I thought he was. He'll go to the Paddy Power and I hope he'll go with a nice chance. You'll see an improved horse from the one you saw at Navan anyway.
Fury Road
John Durkan Chase, Punchestown, December 19
He always seemed a little bit of a bridle horse but I liked the way he put his head down and galloped to the line at Down Royal. He's in the rescheduled John Durkan.
Galvin
Savills Chase, Leopardstown, December 28
He scoped dirty after Down Royal but he’s back in good nick again now. He’s got a big heart. He finished fourth in the Cheltenham Gold Cup and probably doesn’t get the credit he deserves. He won the race last year and he'll go back to defend his crown.
Gerri Colombe
Faugheen Novice Chase, Limerick, December 26
The race at Limerick looks made for him and he should be in his element on that ground. I was really looking forward to sending him over fences and he didn't put a foot wrong when he won his beginners' chase at Fairyhouse. Hopefully, he will come on for that. He looks great.
Hollow Games
Brand New Racing Post App Novice Chase, Leopardstown, December 26 or Irish Stallion Farms EBF Novice Chase, Naas, January 8
I'm not sure yet whether he will run at Leopardstown or wait for the 2m novice chase at Naas in January. I was trying to make him into a stayer last year but he actually has more speed than I thought. It was hard to pick holes in what he did at Navan.
Imagine
Paddy Power Future Champions Novice Hurdle, Leopardstown, December 27 or BoyleSports Sporting Limerick Hurdle, Limerick, December 29
He has a few options over Christmas but I'm leaning towards the Grade 2 at Limerick for four-year-olds, the race Teahupoo won last year. I'd say he bumped into a nice horse at Gowran Park. He's progressing nicely.
Irish Point
Paddy Power Future Champions Novice Hurdle, Leopardstown, December 27 or Lawlor's Of Naas Novice Hurdle, Naas, January 8
He's entered in the Grade 1s at Leopardstown and Naas but at the moment I'm leaning towards Naas for him. He has plenty of boot but he stays too and will get 2m4f. I was delighted with him in the Royal Bond. To do what he did in a Grade 1 on the back on winning a maiden hurdle was some going. He's a lovely horse.
Itswhatunitesus
Jim Ryan Racecourse Services Rated Novice Hurdle, Punchestown, December 19
I was delighted to see him get the job done at Cork and I'd say the runner-up [Embassy Gardens] isn't a bad horse. We're going to go to the rescheduled rated novice hurdle at Punchestown on Monday.
Mighty Potter
Faugheen Novice Chase, Limerick, December 26
He could go to Limerick but it's more likely we'll wait for the Ladbrokes Novice Chase at the Dublin Racing Festival. He's done great since the Drinmore. That was a quality performance. He had schooled at Navan a few days before Fairyhouse and Jack Kennedy was smiling from head to toe afterwards. When Jack is smiling it says more than a thousand words!
Minella Crooner
Neville Hotels Novice Chase, Leopardstown, December 29
He's a proper stayer and has taken very well to fences, as we thought he might. We knew he would come on for his run at Punchestown and it was great to see him get his head in front at Fairyhouse. I'd say the second there is a smart horse. He's run well at Leopardstown a couple of times over hurdles and the 3m race would look right up his street.
Pied Piper
Matheson Hurdle, Leopardstown, December 29 or BoyleSports Sporting Limerick Hurdle, Limerick, December 29
He was a good juvenile hurdler last year and he's done nothing wrong this season. He's taken everything in his stride and could go to the Matheson Hurdle at Leopardstown. That would be a hot enough race and he also has the option of a race at Limerick which could suit.
Punitive
Coral Welsh Grand National, Chepstow, December 27
He's a strong stayer and the further he goes the better he is. He was an early exit from the Troytown but he bounced back the following weekend to win the Porterstown at Fairyhouse in great style. He's in the Welsh National but we haven't fully made up our minds where he'll go next.
Queens Brook
Jack de Bromhead Christmas Hurdle, Leopardstown, December 28 or Advent Surety Irish EBF Mares Hurdle, Leopardstown, December 29
She has two options at Leopardstown: stick to her own sex for a 2m4f hurdle or try 3m in the Grade 1. I'm keen to try her over 3m at some stage.
Sire Du Berlais
Jack de Bromhead Christmas Hurdle, Leopardstown, December 28 or Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle, December 28
He's been some horse over the years and ran a cracker at Aintree last season when he beat Flooring Porter. He has the option of the Grade 1 over 3m or a Pertemps Qualifier. We're not sure which route to take just yet.
Three Stripe Life
Neville Hotels Novice Chase, Leopardstown, December 29
He could step up to 3m at Leopardstown, but nothing is set in stone. It was frustrating what happened in the Drinmore as he was jumping and travelling lovely until then. He's a talented horse and you'd be hoping he'll end the season as one of the top staying novice chasers.
Zanahiyr
Jack de Bromhead Christmas Hurdle, Leopardstown, December 28
He's had a wind op and he did his first piece of work on Wednesday. I'm looking forward to trying him over 3m to see how he gets on. We don't have much time between now and the Grade 1 at Christmas but we'll get him there if we can.
