Gordon Elliott’s Racing Post stable tour is certainly worth a read and the County Meath-based handler hasn’t been shy about his assessments of his string for this season. It’s always hard to take on the might of Willie Mullins but Elliott has some good ammunition to go to war with. He highlighted three dark horses to follow and was very bullish about one potential stable star. Check out our free tips page for daily content across British and Irish racing.
This four-year-old was a cosy winner of a heavy ground Irish point in March and subsequently switched hands for £300,000.
The trainer said: ‘I liked the look of him when he won his point for Rob James at Monksgrange. He’s been catching my eye on the gallops, too, and every time he passes by me I like what I see. He’s nice and he’s ready to start off in a bumper soon.’
Another one to watch in bumpers, the Gigginstown Stud-owned gelding won the second of his two Irish points.
His trainer said: ‘He looks a nice horse with plenty of ability and he’ll kick off in a bumper over the next week or two. Won his point at Dromahane for Ciaran Fennessy. He’s a beautiful horse to look at.’
Winner of two bumpers last term, including one at the Punchestown Festival, Wingmen could be one for some of the better novice hurdles this season.
Elliott said: ‘My gut is telling me he’s very good. He was too free last season, but he’s a lot more settled at home since he’s come back and that bodes very well. He’s been schooling well over hurdles, and he relaxes as well on the track as he has been at home this season. He should be up there with our better novice hurdlers.’
Romeo Coolio was up there with best of them in bumpers last term and the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle could await.
His trainer gushed: ‘I’ve loved him from day one. There has always just been something about him. I knew he was better than the bare form of the bumper he won at Fairyhouse and he proved that at Cheltenham. The plan is for him to run in the maiden hurdle over two miles at Down Royal this week. He’s got a lot of speed and that will be his trip. He’s got very strong and his schooling has been really good.’
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.