GordonElliott

14.00 Oscar Hill

He unseated Jason (Maguire) at the seventh fence in a chase here yesterday when he seemed to take off a little early and drop his hind legs in the fence. As long as he's okay today, we'll let him take his chance in the opening hurdle. He was a winner over hurdles at Downpatrick last month and with Callum Whillans taking 7lbs off I'm hoping he might have a little more luck today and run well.

15.30 Cottage Oak

He ran really well when just touched off here yesterday, particularly since the very testing ground wasn't ideal for him. He had quite a hard race and he's unlikely to run again today.


16.40 St Killian's Run

He's in very good form at home and runs well fresh (off the track since December) but we were hoping for a bit of better ground and, again, it has completely gone against him. It's frustrating but there's nothing you can do about it. He has won on soft ground in the past but we're not as confident as we might have been.

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Perth

15:00 Oscar Hill

Nigel Twiston-Davies' Astracad, officially rated 13lbs superior but only conceding 4lbs, looks the one to beat in this race but our fella will like the ground (good to soft), the two miles won't be a problem and he likes going right handed. Realistically, we're probably looking at second place but he's in good form and you never know.

15:30 Raajih

He's in good form and the step up to three miles should suit him. We stepped him up to two miles five furlongs at Tramore on the last day and he finished a decent sixth, so we're hoping another few furlongs will help. It looks a very low-grade race and he should be capable of getting competitive. I don't know much about the jockey (Mr N Slatter) but he rides work for Donald McCain, who says he's a good fella so I'm happy to put him up.

16:05 Cottage Oak

The ground was way too soft for him when he finished fourth at Fairyhouse last time out and it should be much more suitable at Perth this afternoon so we expect a better show today. Jason Maguire is in the saddle and he'll ride him from midfield and hope to deliver him late. He was a winner over the course and distance on good ground back in August and as long as it doesn't rain too much, he should have a very good chance.

16:40 Silverlord

He's been placed a number of times since coming back from a year off and after being a little unfortunate not to pick up a race on the all weather, he returned to hurdling at Limerick last time. He finished third there (beaten 19.5 lengths) but going to Perth for this race represents a drop in class for him. He's probably got a good chance but like all of our runners this afternoon, he wouldn't want any more rain.

Punchestown

15:40 Beef To The Heels

He runs in the final of the Martinstown series and he's in good nick at the moment. He's been really consistent over hurdles and he got a deserved change of luck when winning well at Navan last time. But that win came on good ground and that's our main worry for him today - the soft-to-heavy ground isn't ideal. Ben Dalton, who rides him, is a good young lad (rode another winner for Gigginstown at Cork on Monday) and the horse is in very good form but the ground is a concern.

16:20 Un Beau Matin

He's only with us a fortnight so we're not sure where we stand with him at the moment but it's worth letting him take his chance today as he won't mind the testing conditions. His form in France looks good (winner of a Listed Hurdle at Auteuil on his only outing over obstacles, and twice a winner on the flat - all on soft ground) and hopefully he'll be a nice sort for the future.

It's a winners-of-one and looks a decent contest so we'll know more about him after the race. As I said, we don't have him very long so Davy (Russell) will take his time on him early and see how the race develops in front of him. Hopefully he'll go well.

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16:55 Punchestown

Rocky Wednesday

The weather has been terrible recently and the ground has gone against a lot of our horses and so we start the Punchestown Festival with just one runner. It's a bit unfortunate for us but what can you do?!

I thought I'd have quite a few runners at the meeting this week but we'll have to see exactly how testing it is before committing them. I have alternative engagements at Perth for a number of the horses and I'll have to talk to the owners before deciding what to do.

Rocky Wednesday is one of ours that won't have any problem with the conditions as he was a winner of a maiden hurdle on heavy ground at Down Royal over Christmas. He unseated at the first in a novices' handicap at Fairyhouse last time but it was just one of those things and he's none the worse for it.

This is obviously a very competitive handicap - exactly what you'd expect at a meeting like this - but he's got plenty of ability. He can be a bit tricky and so Paul (Carberry) will drop him out, hunt him around and see how the race unfolds in front of him. If he puts his mind to it, he could have an each-way chance.

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13:30, Jcb Triumph Hurdle
His Excellency
I run two in the Triumph Hurdle and there isn't a lot between them on official ratings. His Excellency, owned by Gigginstown, is the mount of Davy Russell and I've always said that he has plenty of ability but can be tricky. I think the way this race will be run could really suit the horse. They always go a furious pace and if Davy can drop him out and get him settled in the early stages, I could see him travelling strongly into the race. He's a grade two winner at home and if he puts it all in, I wouldn't be surprised to see him run a big race.

Shadow Catcher
He's another really promising young horse and I thought he was a little unlucky not to win the grade one Spring Juvenile Hurdle at Leopardstown last time. He pulled a little hard early and probably hit the front too soon. Like His Excellency, he should really appreciate a fast-run race here, though he'll be ridden closer to the pace than our other horse.
I've always held him in very high regard and his form ties in with the best of the Irish juveniles. The ground shouldn't be a problem and, if he gets a bit of luck in-running, I expect him to go close.

14:05, Vincent O'Brien County Handicap Hurdle
Dirar
Again, I have two in the County Hurdle and I find it hard to separate them. They're both probably quite exposed over hurdles at this stage but, after a trip to America that didn't work out as planned, Dirar seems to be back in good form. He had no luck in-running when eighth, not beaten far, in this race last year and he's only a couple of pounds higher this time.
He's been a great servant to us, winning an Ebor on the Flat, and if he enjoys better luck this time, he could go close in the hands of Davy Condon.

Plan A
He's our second horse in the County Hurdle and he, too, has showed that he can handle the track. He's been here a few times and ran really well when fourth in the Fred Winter at last year's Festival. He's won on all sorts of ground, so that isn't an issue, but this is a really competitive race - as it is every year - and a lot depends on how much luck he gets in-running. Paul (Carberry) will probably ride him in mid-division and he has each-way claims.

14:40, Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle
Mount Benbulben
He's a horse I've always held in the highest regard and he comes here with a real chance. He was beaten by Boston Bob last time but he pulled muscles in that race and we know it wasn't his true running. I'm not saying he would have beaten the winner that day but he jumped out to his right, something he hadn't done before, and we knew there had to be a reason for it. Prior to that he had won a grade two at Navan on just his third run over hurdles. He's back in great nick now and though he's unproven on really fast going, the ground has been well maintained and there shouldn't be a problem. Willie Mullins' horse is probably the one to beat but, fingers crossed, our horse will go really well.

16:40, Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle
Toner D'Oudairies
He ran a good race in the Pertemps Qualifier at Leopardstown last time but just didn't seem to see out the three-mile trip. The step back to two and a half today should be right up his street and Keith Donoghue, who rides him, is a good claimer. He's done all his winning for us on soft ground and so today's ground is a bit of an unknown, but he's a nice young horse and I think he'll be okay on it. He's open to improvement and if things go right for him in the race, he could go well.

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14:05 Cheltenham
Russian War

It's a quiet day today, with just one runner, but we'll be much busier tomorrow. Russian War is in good nick ahead of the Pertemps Hurdle.

It's a really tough race and he's gone up a lot in the handicap since his last win (12lbs), which means he has got a lot of weight to carry. He's up against it but Paul (Carberry) will take his time on him, the horse will enjoy the good ground and if he finishes in the first half dozen or so, I'll be delighted.

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13:30 Cheltenham
Cottage Oak
Cottage Oak gave me my first Cheltenham Festival winner when winning this race last year and I'd like to think this fella can go well today. He was a little disappointing at Navan last time but I put that down to the ground, which was far too soft for him. I've walked the course and it's absolutely fine, decent going and that should suit him. I expect he'll run a better race than last time but I'm not entirely sure he'll stay the four-mile trip. We'll learn a bit more about that today, but I think he could be an Irish National horse for the future. Kevin Power rides him and will probably take his time on him and see how the race develops.

16:00 Cheltenham
Carlito Brigante
He won this race last year and we've decided to let him take his chance in the race again in preference to a tilt at the Stayers Hurdle. I thought we'd probably have to settle for a minor role in that race so, while he's a lot higher rated this year than last (13lbs higher), I think this is the better option for him.
The ground should be pretty similar to last year, Davy (Russell) was on him then and I expect he'll employ similar tactics this time.
Carlito Brigante had a breathing operation earlier in the season and ran a very good race when a close fifth at Dundalk last time - a race which should have put him spot-on for today. It's a big ask to win such a competitive race two years in-a-row but I really think he has a genuine each-way chance.

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Most of the horses have arrived over at Cheltenham now and there were no issues with them. We have three more due over this afternoon and then we'll have the entire team here.

All seems to well with them, thank God, so we're really looking forward to getting them out on the track. We don't have any runners this afternoon but tomorrow and the rest of the week will be busy and if we could get a couple of winners that would be brilliant.

I haven't had a chance to finalise all riding arrangements so far but Paul Carberry will ride Shadow Catcher in the Triumph Hurdle and Mount Benbulben in the Albert Bartlett, both on Friday.

Davy Russell will be on Carlito Brigante, who, as I said last week, runs in the Coral Cup, while Keith Donoghue is going to be on Toner D'Oudairies in the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' race.

I see Boston Bob will be running in the Albert Bartlett on Friday, meaning we'll have a rematch of the Navan race in which he finished in front of Mount Benbulben. You can't avoid them. It's Cheltenham after all and you have to take on the best and, as you'd expect at this level, we have more than just him to worry about.

All I know is that our fella is in great form, I couldn't be happier with him and we'll just have to see what happens on Friday. It's all going to plan so far with the horses, so hopefully we'll have a good week.

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14:15 Downpatrick
Glimmer Star
He's not the most straightforward horse and, in that sense, a Martinstown Opportunity Hurdle (for conditional jockeys) is probably not the ideal race for him. That said, Danny (Benson) is a capable young lad and the horse finished second in a bumper last year. It's his first run since July and he'll improve for it but it's hard to know how good the race is and I'm hoping he can run well.


14:45 Downpatrick
Kasszec
She made her track debut in a bumper at the weekend, where she was well beaten by runaway winner Lord Of Lords. She won a mares' point to point last month, so going over hurdles for the first time won't be a problem for her. It's only a few days since she last ran but there's a small field, which will be in her favour.


15:15 Downpatrick
Oscar Hill
He's certainly not the most straightforward but he ran well when third behind Owennacurra Milan last week and will turn out again here. He's in good form and, as I said prior to last week's race, he's well handicapped over hurdles relative to his new mark over fences, so he's staying over the smaller ones for now. Paul Carberry is on board and he'll try to make all the running on him. It's not the strongest of races so he should be capable of going close.


16:45 Downpatrick
Spring Lane
He ran very well when just touched off in a bumper at Catterick last week. The extra couple of furlongs of this race should be in his favour and Nina Carberry is booked to ride him. Again, it's not the strongest of contests and he's improved with each run so hopefully this will be the day he gets off the mark.

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16:20 Catterick
Western Bound
He makes his chasing debut this afternoon and I've been pleased with his schooling at home. He's in good shape and will certainly appreciate the better ground but, even though there are only five runners in the race, it looks very competitive. Araucaria has some very good form in the book and she has the mares' allowance to help. Brian Hughes rides my one and he should run well but most of the other runners have experience over fences and I'm probably looking at getting into the frame.


17:20 Catterick
Spring Lane
He was a little disappointing on his debut, where the going probably didn't suit him, but ran a much better race when third on good ground at Musselburgh last time. He worked during the week and worked very well so I'm pleased with him going into this race. It's confined to conditional jockeys so Conor O'Farrell will ride him. He's done really well for David Pipe and he takes three pounds off today. The going should be good at Catterick so that's another help and, of my two runners this afternoon, he's probably the one that will go closest. I'm hoping for a big run from him.

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20:55 Dundalk

Silverlord

He was off for more than a year until making his comeback here at Dundalk earlier in the month and we were pretty pleased with his effort (third, beaten two lengths behind Aragorn Rouge). He seems to be in good form but I'm a little concerned that he has quite a lot of weight to carry (9-10). He's stepping up to a mile and a half, which shouldn't be an issue. Emmet McNamara rides and, if the horse can show he's come on for that run, he should go well.

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