FRESH from reaching the 40-winner mark at last year’s Cheltenham Festival, Gordon Elliott is readying up another crack team to tackle the biggest four days in National Hunt racing.

Expecting to travel between 45 to 50 horses, there will be no shortage of opportunities for the Co Meath team to follow up a Cheltenham hat-trick in 2024. Elliott, who turns 47 tomorrow, also hit the crossbar with five seconds and five thirds at the meeting 12 months ago.

Asked to nominate his best chance of the week and one who might surprise a few at the meeting, Elliott said: “You’d have to say my best chances are Teahupoo and Brighterdaysahead, wherever she runs. I’m looking forward to Wodhooh and The Yellow Clay too. We honestly have loads of chances; we may be a bit lighter than other years in the handicaps, but we’re probably as strong as we’ve ever been in the novice hurdles and chases.”

Michael O’Sullivan Supreme Novices’ Hurdle

We will definitely run Romeo Coolio. Kopek Des Bordes looked good at the Dublin Racing Festival and sets the standard, but our lad has got plenty of experience and we’re looking forward to running him. He’s in good form.

We said we’d keep him fresh. He’s a Kayf Tara and they take a bit of time between their runs. I think we learned a lot out of Fairyhouse, when he was beaten in the Royal Bond, with regards to how to ride him. He’s actually a galloper. We were riding him for speed, but I think he just gallops.

My Pension Expert Arkle Chase

Touch Me Not was second to Majborough at Leopardstown the last day and we’re looking at the Arkle for him. He ran well then and, if the ground dried up, he could have an each-way chance. Realistically, that’s what I see. He jumps well.

Ultima Handicap Chase

On their best days, Search For Glory and Zanahiyr would have each-way chances, but it will be a tough race.

Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle

Kala Conti, with her rating of 145, could go this direction, but she’s in the Coral Cup as well. It will all depend on what Brighterdaysahead does. We probably made too much use of Kala Conti last time [when second to July Flower at Leopardstown over Christmas]. Riding her with more patience would suit her better at Cheltenham. Wodhooh isn’t entered and I’d say it’s more likely than not that she’ll go to the Martin Pipe.

Unibet Champion Hurdle

I’m very happy with Brighterdaysahead - she’s in great form. We’ll make our decision about whether she runs here or in the Mares’ Hurdle a week before and will tell everyone. We’re not going to wait until declaration stage and mess around. We’ll say it on Monday or Tuesday, and hopefully we can’t be any fairer than that. Obviously, Michael [O’Leary] will make the decision. I’d love to give her a go at the Champion Hurdle. You don’t persuade Michael. He does his own thing.

We’ll do the right thing for the horse. It’s a Champion Hurdle and it would be great to win it. I could be a long time trying to get a horse for the race again. If you look at the betting, she is fairly short for the Mares’ Hurdle. We’ve been second and third in Champion Hurdles before, and Jack Kennedy says she’s different class.

Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle

Wendrock goes here, but looks badly handicapped. The handicapper didn’t miss him.

National Hunt Challenge Cup Novices’ Handicap Chase

I’ll run two or three. I thought Will Do could be the pick of them. He’s got loads of experience, and I think a bit of drying ground will really suit him. You’ll see a different horse if we get drying ground. Duffle Coat and Stuzzikini could go there too. They’re both a bit hit and miss, but on a good day they could run well.

Turners Novices’ Hurdle

The Yellow Clay and Bleu De Vassy are our two for this. Everyone is saying The Yellow Clay should go for the Albert Bartlett, that he’s favourite for it, but I don’t know if he’s as slow as people make him out to be. If the ground got very, very quick, then it could be something you might think about but, at the moment, we’re thinking of going for the Turners. I think this is his trip.

Again, Final Demand looked very good at the DRF. We have a bit of a line of form with Wingmen, and I think The Yellow Clay is a better horse than Wingmen, so that would be the way we’re looking at it.

Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase

We could run three in this. Better Days Ahead, who won the Martin Pipe last year, is in great form. I wasn’t underwhelmed that he didn’t win more easily at Navan. To be honest, he’s very lazy and wouldn’t do a stroke at home. I don’t think he’d win any race by far - that’s just the make of him.

If Stellar Story got his jumping together, he’d be very dangerous over this trip. Even at Navan last time [behind Better Days Ahead], he was probably a little bit unlucky. He gave 3lb to the winner and we probably rode him a little bit negatively. At the same time, those were the instructions I gave to Danny [Gilligan], to get him around, number one. He has a big engine. Croke Park has the option of running in this or waiting for Fairyhouse, we’re not sure what we’re going to do yet. I think if you look at him, the last 50 yards of his races are normally his weakest. I’m just not convinced he’s an out-and-out three-miler.

Coral Cup

I’d say we’ll have Beacon Edge, Kala Conti, Maxxum, The Enabler and Mordor. Maxxum runs well in those big handicaps off big weights - he just seems to be one of those horses. Carl Millar will claim off him. We’re throwing a few others at it and seeing what happens. Kala Conti is probably the pick of them, if she runs. Beacon Edge is a great horse. I wouldn’t mind owning him myself; he picks up a cheque every day he runs. He could run well in the race again, even though he’s not getting any younger. We’re probably rolling a bit of a dice with Mordor, to be honest. The Enabler wasn’t right after his last start at the Dublin Racing Festival [when mid-field behind McLaurey].

Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase

We’ll run seven here. Now that it’s turned into a handicap, every horse has a chance. Galvin, if the ground dried up, would have a great chance. I know you’ll laugh at me, because he slipped early and never took to it the last day [he ran in a cross country race], but Conflated has been brilliant jumping them at home, and we’ve had him over to Cheltenham and he’s class. It wouldn’t shock me if he ran a big race. We’ve also got Chemical Energy, Coko Beach, The Goffer, Gevrey and Minella Crooner.

BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase

Found A Fifty is in this and the Ryanair. It’s undecided what route we’ll go. We’ll just wait as late as we can.

Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Challenge Cup Handicap Chase

American Mike looks probably just a gear or two behind what it takes to win it. He’s finishing third or fourth in those good two-mile chases. If they went a fast gallop, he could run well.

Weatherbys Champion Bumper

We could run He Can’t Dance, Jalon D’oudairies, Kalypso’chance and Koktail Brut here. Jalon D’oudairies hasn’t been easy to train. We’ve had a few problems and that’s why we didn’t go jumping hurdles. He seems in good form, but he’ll have to do a good bit of work next Monday to confirm he’ll go.

You’d have to say Kalypso’chance is the pick of them at the moment. Willie has obviously come out with a few smart horses in the last few days, but I like Kalypso’chance - he ticks a lot of the boxes. He’s not slow at home, but he’s definitely a lot flashier on the track than he is at home.

Jack Richards Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase

I’d say Dee Capo and Firefox will run here. They’re both graded horses in their own right and I think Firefox could have a big chance in this race. Dee Capo might lack a bit of experience, but was very good at Leopardstown and isn’t a bad horse on his day. I think this is a good trip for both of them.

Pertemps Final

I’m not sure if The Wallpark will go for the Stayers’ Hurdle or this. I thought Patter Merchant could be interesting if the ground dries up; he’d have hated the ground the other day [when fourth on heavy at Naas].

Ryanair Chase

It’ll either be this or the Champion Chase for Found A Fifty.

Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle

I couldn’t be happier with Teahupoo. He worked very well on Monday morning. Jack [Kennedy] rode him out on Wednesday too and was very pleased with him. We’re looking forward to running him back in the Stayers’ again. I don’t think there’s any reason why he should be different to last year; he’s not got many miles on the clock and I think his run when second in this year’s Hatton’s Grace was even better than when he won the same race a year earlier. There was no gallop on and the ground was as quick as he’d want over that two-and-a-half-mile trip. We always planned on going straight to Cheltenham and he’s in good nick. He’s not flashy at home, so you never really know where you are, but you take him away and he’s all right. He has the best form.

I thought The Wallpark ran well in the Long Walk at Ascot. They didn’t go much of a gallop and quickened, and the penny only dropped with him from the last to the line. It wouldn’t shock me if he was placed in the Stayers’. He’ll be dangerous, because he’ll be coming home very fast. He’s an unassuming horse. It’s a case of weighing up whether you go for the Pertemps off topweight or not. Sire Du Berlais did that. I don’t know if he has the class of Sire Du Berlais.

TrustATrader Plate Handicap Chase

We could run Riaan, Sa Fureur and What’s Up Darling here. Sa Fureur could be dangerous. He’s in good form. He wasn’t right after his last start at Leopardstown over Christmas - you can put a line through that run. Riaan was running very well in the race last year when falling three out. He needs good ground, though. The only time he got any sort of decent ground this season was at the Dublin Racing Festival and he finished fourth. This probably could be the race we run What’s Up Darling in [though he’s also declared for Navan today]. The trip could suit him. The ground was way too soft for him the last day at Gowran [when fifth]. We shouldn’t have run him, but I needed to run him to qualify him for some of these races.

Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir

Challenge Cup Amateur Jockeys’ Handicap Chase

I’ll probably run four: Cleatus Poolaw, Favori De Champdou, Music Of Tara and Where It All Began. Off his mark, probably Favori De Champdou [is our best chance]. He’s running consistently in those staying handicap chases. I don’t know if he has enough up his sleeve or is good enough, but he could be placed. Music Of Tara has never tried this trip before, but I think it could suit her.

William Hill County Handicap Hurdle

I could run Farren Glory, Fils d’Oudairies, Ndaawi and Samui. We’re probably rolling the dice with a few of them. Farren Glory is only 1lb higher [in Britain than Ireland], which isn’t bad, but I wouldn’t say there’s anything of ours really well-handicapped.

Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Chase

Shecouldbeanything has an entry, but I’m not sure if I’ll run her. She just mightn’t be up to it and could pick up plenty of prize money at home.

Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle

Ballybow and Wingmen will likely run here. Jacob’s Ladder could possibly join them as well, though if I had my way, I’d probably prefer to wait for Fairyhouse or Aintree with him.

I think Wingmen is a classy horse over three miles. He’s learned to settle and has got a bit of boot. I’d like to run him here. We always thought he’d be a stayer. With every run, he’s settling better and getting better. I think he could be a classy horse in this race. I’ve won the Albert Bartlett with slower horses than him anyway.

Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle

Minella Sixo, Sporting Glory, Staffordshire Knot, Timmy Tuesday and possibly Mordor could run here. Wodhooh is the pick of ours. This has been the plan all year and her form has worked out very well.

The second, third and fourth from her last start at Cheltenham have all won listed or graded races since then. It wasn’t ideal to miss time with her due to a setback - she nearly missed a year - but hopefully she should definitely come forward for the run.

We said we’d go straight here after her last start at Cheltenham. She’s in great form. Off a mark of 141, she’s still unexposed. She could be well-handicapped and has won at the track, which is massive. Danny Gilligan will ride her.

“I’m sorry to see the amateurs no longer involved in the National Hunt Chase, but I can see why it had to change. With the way the conditions of the race were going, they probably backed themselves into a corner where the rules didn’t work. Even to find a rider who was eligible to ride in the race was very hard. It’s tough for the amateurs because they now only have two opportunities left at the meeting in their own code.

“I always thought when I was young and going to Cheltenham that the Festival was about seeing the elite, watching the best of the best. I think it might just be getting a little close to diluting it a bit too much. Now listen, if you told me there was 10 days of Cheltenham, I’d be there every day trying to have a runner in every race - we all would, because it’s our job. Some of the changes were for the better, but I don’t think they all were.

“I still don’t think it’s the right decision to turn the Cross Country into a handicap. Whether I have or haven’t a horse good enough to win the race, I think it was getting to be a good race. You were getting to see really good horses running in it - the likes of Gold Cup horses.”