Gordon Elliott sends a whole host of runners to his local track Navan on Sunday, little over two months since the yard completed an incredible 37,204/1 seven-timer at the track. So, can Elliott replicate, or even better, that feat on Navan’s eight-race Sunday card? Our editor has assessed the chances of all Elliott runners, along with an incredible Paddy Power new customer offer that provides £45 in free bets when you bet £10.
DEVIL’S CUT & IRISH BLAZE – (1:10pm, P.S. Supplies Doors & Floors Maiden Hurdle)
Gordon Elliott’s first representative on the Navan Sunday card is DEVIL’S CUT, who lines up in the opening 2m maiden hurdle.
This son of Doyen hasn’t been seen since making a winning racecourse debut in a Downpatrick bumper back in May. Devil’s Cut stayed on well to score there under claimer Hugh McOwan, shaping as though he would benefit from the experience.
Bred to improve now sent hurdling, Devil’s Cut warrants respect in what looks a fairly weak contest, yet the horses that ran in that Downpatrick bumper are a combined 0-27 since, and he may come on for this first start in 289 days.
Elliott also has third reserve IRISH BLAZE as a possible runner here, but he will need plenty of luck to get in and even if doing so looks more of a long-term project.
Verdict: Devil’s Cut is the stable’s main hope but the form of his Downpatrick bumper win has worked out poorly. Probably best to side with one that already has hurdling experience, with HEMLOCK topping that list.
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ROCK ON CASSIE – (1:45pm, BetVictor Apple’s Jade Mares Novice Hurdle)
This Listed event is run in the name of Gordon Elliott’s superstar mare Apple’s Jade, and his sole representative in a bid to land the prize is ROCK ON CASSIE.
This 6yo was a point winner in November and stepped forward markedly on a modest rules debut here when a 40/1 winner on a mares’ maiden hurdle at Punchestown last month.
Looked an out and out stayer the last day, getting up in the shadows of the post having been outpaced turning for home. Open to improvement but that Punchestown form has been let down since and she may get tapped for a bit of toe in this company.
Verdict: Rock On Cassie came with a wet sail to score at Punchestown last time but that form is open to question and she had disappointed at this track previously. Probably best to look elsewhere and representing last year’s winning connections BRAMPTON BELLE rates the one to side with.
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GRAND ROI & COMMANDER OF FLEET – (2:20pm, BetVictor Boyne Hurdle)
Gordon Elliott sent out four consecutive winners of the Boyne Hurdle before Noel Meade’s Beacon Edge bucked the trend 12 months ago and with the two most recent Elliott winners priced at 25/1 and 16/1, it should not put off punters that both GRAND ROI and COMMANDER OF FLEET are double-figure prices here.
The former was a £400,000 purchase earlier in his career and looked a potentially smart type when hacking up in a Limerick Grade 2 back in December 2020.
Although 0-4 since, Grand Roi hasn’t been disgraced in both starts this season and he will appreciate any further deterioration of ground conditions, but this looks a tough ask conceding weight to higher-rated rivals.
COMMANDER OF FLEET was a Grade 1 winner for connections earlier in his career and although he has clearly had his issues since he rolled back the years to run out a 40/1 winner of a competitive Grade B handicap hurdle here in December – one of Elliott’s seven winners on the card that day.
Unfortunately, however, Commander Of Fleet has failed to go on since then, finishing pulled up in Grade 1 company at Leopardstown and then a distant eighth in last month’s Galmoy Hurdle. Whilst the return to this venue could bring about improvement 2m5f looks short of Commander Of Fleet’s optimum and he arrives with plenty of risks attached.
Verdict: Grand Roi holds the best chance of Elliott’s two runners and is far from exposed but conceding weight to higher-rated rivals makes his life tough. Darasso would be interesting if taking up this engagement, but it might just pay to side with fellow JP McManus recruit THEDEVILSCOACHMAN, who is 1-1 at the track and represents last year’s winning stable.
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EVER SO COOL – (2:55pm, Meath Farm Machinery Handicap Hurdle)
EVER SO COOL gained one win from ten starts for Dan Skelton and picked up for just £6,500 at the sales last summer.
Has had the four starts since joining current connections, putting up her best performance to date when third at Fairyhouse last time out.
That form has been franked by the runner-up since and Ever So Cool is far from exposed for this yard but she has stamina to prove upped to 2m5f, particularly on ground softer than what she would ideally prefer.
Verdict: Ever So Cool put up her best performance for this yard to date when third at Fairyhouse last month but she doesn’t appear to be crying out for this extra 5f and the ground looks softer than ideal. MACHINE LEARNER comes with risks attached (failed to complete on penultimate start) but he has the ability to be better than a mark of 102 for handicap debut and cheekpieces look an interesting addition.
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TOWNHILL PENNY – (3:30pm, Meath Farm Machinery Handicap Hurdle)
Gordon Elliott sends TOWNHILL PENNY over to contest the second division of this handicap hurdle.
Denis O’Regan’s mount was a point winner last year yet has cut little ice in three maiden hurdles for current connections; sent off a triple-figure price the last twice.
She looks a surefire improver now sent handicapping off a lowly opening mark, and going back up in trip will suit, but others in this line-up arrive with far less to prove.
Verdict: Townhill Penny looks a likely improver now sent handicapping off an opening mark of 93 but she can only be watched on the back of her recent efforts. CHAMP ROYAL has form to his name that suggests he could be better than a mark of 95, so gets a tentative nod.
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BRAESIDE, FAROUK D’ALENE & RUN WILD FRED – (4:05pm, BetVictor Ten Up Novice Chase)
Gordon Elliott took last year’s Ten Up Novice Chase with Coko Beach, and he has three of the top four market leaders for this renewal.
The betting favours RUN WILD FRED, who was runner-up in last year’s Irish Grand National and has retained novice status to good effect this season, landing the Troytown over course and distance in November and then going close in Grade 1 company behind stablemate Fury Road.
FAROUK D’ALENE has always seemingly been held in high regard by connections and has run to a good level in all three chase starts this season, backing up a 2m4f course win with placed efforts at Limerick and Naas the last twice.
Farouk D’alene seemingly has ground in his favour and probably retains a little more scope for improvement than Run Wild Fred.
The trio is completed by BRAESIDE, who looked a stayer to keep on the right side of when landing the Cork National back in April. He finished fourth in the valuable Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas and a subsequent effort in the Thysetes can easily be forgiven as the saddle slipped.
Whilst he admittedly has a little to find with the likes of Run Wild Fred and Farouk D’alene on these terms Jamie Codd looks a fascinating booking, and he certainly wouldn’t be one to completely discount.
Verdict: Beacon Edge took the Boyne Hurdle on this card last year but he arrives on the back of a heavy fall and in truth this looks all about the Elliott trio. None can be completely discounted by with Run Wild Fred tending to bump into one the better play at the prices appears to be FAROUK D’ALENE, who was a course winner on seasonal/chase debut in December. He has bumped into classy rivals in both starts since and with ground/trip in his favour he looks sure to go close.
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RAGNAR LODBROK – (4:40pm, Gibney’s Handicap Chase)
Having run well in defeat in bumpers behind the likes of Eric Bloodaxe and Appreciate It, it is somewhat disappointing that RAGNAR LODBROK has just a Galway maiden hurdle win to his name from 14 career starts, only mustering a distant sixth when sent off the favourite for a handicap chase at Down Royal last month.
Ragnar Lodbrok jumped poorly there and whilst softer ground and the assistance of a claimer could see his technique improve there are others in this field with more solid profiles.
Verdict: Ragnar Lodbrok jumped poorly last time and whilst softer ground could suit in that regard there are others in this line-up with far more solid profiles, namely ALL CLASS, who has won with plenty in hand the last twice and can be backed to bring up the hat-trick. Barry Connell’s Call The Tune hasn’t had a whole host of chances and can give the selection most to think about.
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LANDRAKE – (5:15pm, Paddy Flood Memorial (Pro/Am) INH Flat Race)
Gordon Elliott has an exceptional record in this race having taken five of the last seven renewals and he has LANDRAKE as a sole representative in 2022.
This son of Martaline is out of a hurdles winner and from the family of Grand National winner Rule The World and the classy Venalmar.
He was sent off just 8/1 for a Leopardstown bumper on racecourse debut in December, and although beaten 19l into third time has since shown he had no chance up against current Champion Bumper favourite Facile Vega.
The runner-up has won since, and the fourth has gone well in a competitive British bumper, so with the benefit of experience under his belt and Jamie Codd taking over in the saddle, a bold showing looks likely.
Verdict: LANDRAKE could only finish a 19l third on racecourse debut at Leopardstown on Boxing Day but history has since shown that to be a creditable performance behind a potential superstar in Facile Vega. He can be backed to gain compensation in what is seemingly a weaker affair, albeit market support for recent point winner Madmansgame should be noted.
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