‘I think he’s very smart’ – Gordon Elliott gives us one to follow for Cheltenham

Irish trainer Gordon Elliott has passed the biggest test that he has ever had to face. It has been an excruciating year or so for everyone at Cullentra House for reasons we all know about but it is now business as usual for Elliott and his team.

Since returning from his suspension, Elliott has racked up close to 50 winners and he has a stable full of stars to go to war with this season. Anyone who stuck by Gordon could end up being rewarded handsomely as he is a world-class trainer.

After reading the first part of the Gordon Elliott Stable Tour, which can be found on the Racing Post website for members, there was one horse in particular that he sounded unbelievably excited about.

Bet £10 & Get £30 In Free Bets, Open Account Offer

Bet £10 & Get £30 in Free Bets for new customers at bet365. Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of bets to value of qualifying deposit. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Time limits and T&Cs apply. Registration required. #ad

‘I think he’s very smart’

Elliott’s four-year-old son of Mahler, American Mike, could be the next big stable star. Owned by Bective Stud, this is the quote that we extracted from the Stable Tour piece on racingpost.com below.

‘I was very impressed with his win at Down Royal and I think he’s very smart. I’m going to keep him for the Future Champions Bumper at Navan in December. We won that race with Don Cossack and we like to run a good one in it.’

American Mike is currently best-priced 11-2 for the Champion Bumper at the Cheltenham Festival with bet365. He is favourite for the race after his seven length demolition of his rivals on racecourse debut at Down Royal.

Elliott has won that race at the Festival twice in the last five years with Fayonagh and Envoi Allen. It would have been three from five if Cheveley Park didn’t remove their horses from his yard which resulted in Willie Mullins training last season’s winner Sir Gerhard.

If you back any of our selections you can watch them live on the free Racing Post app or racingpost.com. Simply log in to one of your bookmaker accounts and click ‘Watch live’ on the racecards.

Bet £10 & Get £30 In Free Bets, Open Account Offer