Gordon Elliott: The Cullentra squad for the 2026 Cheltenham Festival | Racing TV

Описание: Gordon Elliott hopes stable star Brighterdaysahead and some of his talented novice hurdlers can help his team kick off this year’s Cheltenham Festival in style, after a disappointing four-day campaign at the Home of Jump Racing in 2025.

The County Meath based trainer had to wait until the last of The Festival’s 28 races last year to register a winner.

But with a series of high-profile winners this season, Elliott is hoping he can put the frustrations of 11 months ago behind him.

Reflecting on last year's Festival, Elliott said: “It was hard for me but it was hard for my staff too. The horses were brilliant. We had a number of seconds and placed in big races – we just didn’t get the bounce of the ball.

“And in racing, soccer, rugby that’s the same – you’ve got to keep your head going. But as hard as it was for me, for all my staff who were putting in all the hours it was harder for them. The horses didn’t run badly, we just didn’t get the bounce of the ball.

“When you look at this season everything is bouncing right for us. That’s sport. You just put those days behind you but that’s what makes it better when you win.

“In this game you take nothing for granted. It’s day by day. We’re very lucky to have the horses we have and hopefully we’ll go to Cheltenham and have a few winners. That’s what we’re all dreaming about.

“It just shows, last year we had to wait for the last race. We hit the crossbar umpteen times with seconds, thirds, fourths. On another week we could have three or four winners very easy and you’d have gone home saying you’d had a great week but it’s sport and you’ve got to keep your head up and keep going to the next day.”

This year will be the 10th anniversary of one of Elliott’s greatest achievements, winning the Cheltenham Gold Cup with Don Cossack. And although his office is littered with memorabilia from some of his great triumphs, there is nothing from that day in March 2016.

Elliott laughs: “All the good ones are in my house. All the Grade Ones are in the house, in my kitchen. Every morning, breakfast, lunch and dinner, before I go to bed I’m looking at them!

“I can’t believe it’s been 10 years since Don Cossack. In a way when you look at the pictures there’s more grey hairs and extra holes on the belt but it doesn’t seem like it. We’ve had a lot of good days and bad days since it but it’s a day we’ll never forget.”

Alongside Brighterdaysahead, Elliott has readied a strong team for Prestbury Park and tells Lisa O'Neill more about the likes of Romeo Coolio, Ballyfad, El Cairos, Teahupoo, Honesty Policy, Skylight Hustle, Western Form, Oldschool Outlaw and Wodhooh.

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