GERRI Colombe, the five-time Grade 1 winner who finished closest to Galopin Des Champs in last year’s Cheltenham Gold Cup, could become Gordon Elliott’s first runner at Windsor for this month’s Berkshire Winter Million meeting, though the leading trainer feels his top stayer hasn’t fully caught fire yet.

Robcour’s top-class chaser was absent over the festive period when a possible Savills Chase appearance had been mooted, and - provided he pleases connections in the coming weeks - the two-mile-six-furlong Fitzdares Fleur de Lys Chase at Windsor on January 19th is under strong consideration.

The nine-year-old failed to bring his best on his only start this season when beaten 13 and a half lengths by Envoi Allen in the Ladbrokes Champion Chase at Down Royal. However, Gerri Colombe remains the clear third favourite in the ante-post markets for this year’s Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup at a general 14/1 (behind Galopin Des Champs at 5/4 and Fact To File at 4/1).

“Gerri just isn’t where I want him to be at the moment,” Elliott told The Irish Field.

“I have it in my head at the moment that I’d like to go to Windsor with him; we’ll see if he can. There’s good prize money on offer [a £165,000 contest] and it’s a good race. That’s what we’re thinking of.

“He brought some of his best form in the spring last year at Cheltenham and Aintree, so hopefully he can do that this time around. I’ll probably have a few others to go over for that meeting but haven’t fully decided yet.”

Brighter future

Nine winners between St Stephen’s Day and New Year’s Day kept the numbers building for the Cullentra team, including three at the highest level.

A breathtaking 30-length demolition job from Brighterdaysahead in the Neville Hotels Hurdle brought Elliott to a landmark 100th career Grade 1 winner. That came on the same afternoon he reached a whopping 2,000 Irish National Hunt victories.

Connections are now left with a dilemma as to whether they target the Unibet Champion Hurdle or Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle with the Gigginstown-owned star, who is 4/1 for the Champion and a top-priced 6/4 for the Mares’ Hurdle.

Elliott said: “She was brilliant at Christmas, we were delighted she was able to do what she did. She’ll have an entry at the Dublin Racing Festival. As it is today, I’d imagine she might go straight there [to Cheltenham], but we’ll give her an entry and make a decision closer to the time. No call has been made yet on where she’ll run in March. She’ll be entered in everything and we’ll assess it closer to the time.”

On reaching the landmark totals, and his yard’s overall form, he added: “It was brilliant to get the 100 Grade 1s up for everyone involved. We’ve had a few horses hit and a few horses miss over the last while. I think a bit of frost over the coming week or so will help to kill any of the bugs around. We’re looking forward to the rest of the season.”

Coolio’s Supreme

It’s also a case of the Cotswolds calling next with Romeo Coolio, after his dominant nine-length win in the Grade 1 Paddy Power Future Champions Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown. Stayers’ Hurdle-winning stablemate Teahupoo is expected to chart a familiar pathway to the spring too.

“My initial feeling is that Romeo Coolio will go straight to Cheltenham, but nothing is set in concrete,” said Elliott.

“I thought he was good at Leopardstown - that was the horse I thought we’d see at Fairyhouse in the Royal Bond on his previous start. It probably ended up being a messy race there and it just didn’t happen for him.

“We’re going straight to Cheltenham with Teahupoo after his run in the Hatton’s Grace [when second to Lossiemouth]. He’s had a little break and we’re happy to do the same as last year.”

Romeo Coolio (a top-priced 10/1) is challenging Salvator Mundi at the head of the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle market, while Teahupoo is the general 13/8 favourite to make it back-to-back wins in the Stayers’ Hurdle.