Gordon Elliott has a fantastic bunch of horses to go to war with every season and it’s no different this year. His stable tour came out recently and there’s plenty of valuable insight contained within. Five dark horses were nominated as ones to watch so we’ve highlighted them here. You can check out our free tips page for daily content across British and Irish racing.
Found A Fifty was a narrow second in a Grade 2 at Naas last season and it appears better is expected over fences. His trainer remarked: “I think he’ll make a smashing chaser. He blew his top at Aintree and I wouldn’t read too much into his run at Punchestown after that as it was at the end of the season. I might start him off in the 2m3f beginners chase at Down Royal next week. I liked the way he was moving when we brought him to work at Tipperary last week.”
Jalon D’Oudairies could be one to watch in the bumper sphere this season. A five-year-old son of Shantou, he won his sole Irish point back in March. Elliott said: “This chap could be nice. He won a point at Lingstown for Donnchadh Doyle and we like him. He’ll start off in a bumper soon and I’m looking forward to it.”
This five-year-old has been absent since finishing fourth on his debut over timber at Navan in January. Elliott stated: “He picked up an injury after running in a maiden hurdle at Navan, so that’s why you didn’t see him again afterwards. I’d say he’s a fair horse, a proper galloper. We’re looking forward to him running in a maiden hurdle soon.”
He made his hurdles debut at Punchestown earlier this month and it’s fair to say Elliott is expecting plenty of improvement. The trainer said: “Jack [Kennedy] came back in after his run at Punchestown the other day and said he will come on a ton for it. He said he went to win his race and he just blew up. You will see a different horse the next day he shows up.”
Another bumper horse that Elliot is looking forward to, he won his sole Irish point impressively and cost a whopping £420,000. His trainer said: “He won his point for Donnchadh Doyle at Belclare. He worked nicely at Tipperary the other day, so hopefully he’s one we can look forward to. You’ll see him turn up in a bumper very soon.”
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