Watch: Gordon Elliott in discussion with Ruby Walsh

Gordon Elliott has declared 34 horses for the BetVictor Festival Of Racing at Down Royal but it is two mares who will not be in action this weekend who he believes can be flagbearers for his Cullentra team over the months ahead.

Elliott invariably dominates the action at Down Royal and his horses seem certain to be in the thick of the action on Friday and Saturday, with Found A Fifty, Western Fold and Stellar Story all set to line up in the weekend’s feature race, the Grade One BetVictor Champion Chase on Saturday.

The trainer is intrigued to see what Found A Fifty can do moving up in distance, having won on his reappearance at the meeting for the past two years. He says Stellar Story will be suited by any more rain but hinted that Galway Plate winner Western Fold “could go on his holidays” if underfoot conditions get testing.

“Found A Fifty is an interesting horse,” Elliott told Racing TV’s Ruby Walsh in a feature you can watch during The Friday Club. “At the end of last season, going two and a half miles brought improvement. We are always looking at an angles, so could three miles bring about more improvement? He’s got more relaxed, his jumping is good and he goes well fresh.” 

Elliott outlined hopes for many of his high-profile horses to Walsh, plus touched on exciting recruits from the point-to-point ranks, improvements to his base and much more. 

It is a pair of established performers, Brighterdaysahead and Woodoh, who Elliott believes can be potent forces over the months ahead. 

Brighterdaysahead won at Down Royal this time last year before beating State Man in the Morgiana Hurdle, and then trouncing her rivals by 30 lengths and upwards in the Neville Hotels Hurdle at Leopardstown over Christmas. 

That led to her going off 5-2 for the Champion Hurdle but she trailed home fourth, even with main rivals Constitution Hill and State Man suffering tumbles. She finished her season with a below-par third at Punchestown, too. 

This season, a novice chase campaign beckons, with the Arkle or Mares Chase a likely aim because Elliott believes she is too speedy to contemplate the Brown Advisory. 

“She was always bought to be chaser and we probably stayed over hurdles a season longer than normal,” Elliott said. “The second half [of last season] didn't work out, but I don't regret it. She's strong, she looks good and has schooled well.” 

Wodhooh has been beaten just once in eight starts over hurdles, when runner-up to Lossiemouth in the Aintree Hurdle. Before that, she had given Elliott victory in the final race at Cheltenham after an exasperating week where he hit the crossbar numerous times. In Walsh’s words, he “broke the crossbar”. 

The five-year-old is going to start off in the Hatton’s Grace Hurdle, with Elliott confident she can pick up from where she left off. “She’s only beaten once, and that was by the best mare in training,” he said. “She can take us to big places”. 

The Yellow Clay is staying over hurdles, with the Stayers’ Hurdle on his agenda. Teahupoo, his stablemate, winner of the race in 2024, will be out to regain his crown, with his trainer keen to run him in the Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot, plus give him more races this term. 

Elliott shared his thoughts on many other horses, suggesting that Gerri Colombe and Better Days Ahead could be candidates for the Grand National. 

The former has to put injury problems behind him, but Elliott said: “He’s back in, cantering away. It’s not going to be easy and he probably won’t run until Christmas. Whether is [still] a Gold Cup horse or not, I don’t know, especially with the young guns coming along. Could he be an English National horse?” 

Geri Colombe is quoted at 50-1, with Better Days Ahead available at 40-1.