It was another unsuccessful Cheltenham Festival for Gordon Elliott, who had to rely on his star mare Wodhooh to pull him out of the fire once more. 11 of his runners pulled up with a further four fallers signified a damning week, but he is determined to bounce back at Aintree.
Both of his star mares, Wodhood and Brighterdaysahead, have Aintree on the agenda but Elliott is keen to keep them apart. Wodhooh’s been a revelation for the yard winning 10 of her 11 starts, with her sole defeat coming against Lossiemouth. She was a gutsy winner of the Mare’s Hurdle last time out, and remains in top form according to her trainer.
Elliott told the Racing Post: “We’re keeping all options open for the two mares and both have come out of Cheltenham in brilliant form. They’re 100 per cent and I couldn’t be happier with how they’ve taken their races. They’ve bounced straight back.”
On Wodhooh, he remarked: “She’s a star and we’d be lost without her. She just keeps on winning and never lets us down. She ran a cracker behind Lossiemouth in the Aintree Hurdle last year and has the option of that race again. Or else she could step up to three miles. I don’t think that would be any issue for her either. We’ll see how she is over the next couple of weeks but she’s A1 at the moment.”
Brighterdaysahead was exceptional at Aintree as a novice when winning the Grade 1 Mersey Novices’ Hurdle. Despite predominantly campaigned at two miles, Elliott would have no problem stepping up in trip to three miles.
Elliott added: “Brighterdaysahead was impressive at Aintree as a novice. She seemed to really like the track when she won the Grade 1 there over two and a half miles. She would have no problem over that trip. I don’t think three miles would be any bother to her either. She’s a relentless galloper.
“They are two great mares to have around the place and we’re very lucky.”
Irish Grand National pivotal in Trainers Championship bid
Away from Aintree, Gordon Elliott is in a strong position to gain an elusive first Irish jumps trainers’ title. He’s currently in advance of €393,140 over the all-conquering Closutton, and a winning prize fund of €270,000 in the Irish National could secure the win.
On his Fairyhouse team, Elliott noted: “I’ve had this race in mind for Better Days Ahead all season. I was delighted with his two runs this season. I know he was only sixth in the race last year, but he had been to Cheltenham and ran his heart out in the Brown Advisory. He’ll be a fresher horse this year. A year older and a year wiser so hopefully he’ll go there with a decent chance. He seems to be in great form.
Search For Glory, Shecouldbeanything and The Enabler are the other three who’ll potentially line up.”