El Cairos makes Supreme impression despite Leopardstown mishap

Gordon Elliott enjoyed a tremendous Boxing Day with winners at all three Irish venues – but will still be wondering what might have been after El Cairos fell at the last at Leopardstown, leaving Murat to pick up the pieces.

Bought for £410,000 at the David Maxwell dispersal sale, El Cairos was on the way to such an impressive win in the Thorntons Recycling Maiden Hurdle that he is now as low as 7-1 for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham in March.

Unfortunately for his new connections, he stumbled after jumping the last when well clear which left Peter Lawlor’s Murat (11-2) and Doctor Du Mesnil to fight out the finish, with only a nose separating the pair at the line.

Elliott confirmed afterwards that El Cairos was fine: “He’s 100 per cent. He looked good and I’d say he’s a proper horse.

“I’d say we’ll have one run, probably in a maiden hurdle, and then go to the Supreme Novices’, that would be the plan all being well.

“He looks nice. We’ll get him home and make sure he’s OK, but we’re very happy.”

Cheltenham is also on the cards for the winner.

“I was up against two Grade One horses there, and the winner probably fell. It’s a learning curve for my lad and he’ll come on again for that,” said Lawlor.

“He jumped a lot better today and I think I might step him up in distance after that, and let him cruise a bit further.

“We might go to Cheltenham and have a day out there with him. We’re close enough to the horses that are in the betting for the Supreme so why not roll the dice with him now, that’s if I still have him.

“I like taking on this opposition, all the big stables. Once you are competing and running well against them, I look forward to it. It’s a bit nerve wracking though.

“He’s nearly 18 hands high, if he’s sound in the morning we’ll dream of bigger days again.

“I might turn up here for the Dublin Racing Festival. There are no real plans. Today was about seeing where we stood.”

The TRI Equestrian Maiden Hurdle was the starting point for subsequent Supreme winner Kopek Des Bordes 12 months ago and this year another smart prospect ran out a ready winner as Elliott’s Ballyfad (7-4) made all.

Sent hurdling having won two bumpers in November, Jack Kennedy took no chances and kicked clear in the straight, winning by almost 10 lengths

“He showed a good attitude. We were a bit worried in his bumpers that he looked like he was a bit sluggish in soft ground,” said Elliott.

“Jack said he showed plenty of pace there and he was absolutely delighted with him. He seemed to like that ground.

“We were worried that he might not be quick enough on it but it was a good performance and we’re very happy.

“We’ll get him home and have a chat with Michael and Eddie (O’Leary) and see where we go, maybe the DRF.”

Elliott then went on to win the E-Auctions Novice Handicap Hurdle with 7-2 favourite Spinola Bay under Kennedy.