Gordon Elliott has revealed that he is likely to have his biggest ever team for Cheltenham this year.
Nearly 12 months to the date since his whole world turned around following the publication of a picture of him sitting on a dead horse, it was a completely different scene at Cullentra House when Elliott welcomed the press to watch his Festival team get put through their paces.
“I think we have a good team,” Elliott said. “We’ll have runners in most other races. We’ll probably have our biggest team numbers-wise.”
Elliott’s strong comeback has been the story of the season.
In the wake of his six-month suspension, he was backed heavily by some old and new owners.
He has delivered good results in the main but needless to say, Cheltenham will be a key opportunity for him to repay the faith shown in him.
Front and centre on his team is Galvin, second favourite for the Gold Cup, and winner of the Savills Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas.
“I think there is a question mark about every horse in the Gold Cup,” Elliott said. “We’ve been very happy with Galvin. He relaxes and he jumps. If he’s within firing distance of them going two or three fences out, you know he’s going to be coming home strong.”
Ginto, Run Wild Fred, Riviere D’etel, Teahupoo, Conflated and American Mike are just some of the big names Elliott will have on his team, which also includes the incomparable Tiger Roll, who will be going for a remarkable sixth festival win in the Cross Country Chase, which could be his last appearance on the track.
“We had him in Cheltenham last week schooling over banks and he was very good,” Elliott said. “The one negative is if the ground is soft – Tiger Roll isn’t the same horse if the ground is soft, the better the ground, the better the chance he has. He’s the horse of a lifetime and we’re very happy with where he is.”