Gordon Elliott has risen to become one of Ireland's leading Jump trainers since taking out his licence 13 years ago.
He has won The Irish Independent Leading Trainer Award at The Festival™ presented by Magners on two occasions, saddling six winners in 2017 and a record-equalling eight winners in 2018. His 22 win at The Festival™ include Don Cossack's victory in the 2016 Magners Cheltenham Gold Cup.
He shot to international prominence with victory in the 2007 Grand National, aged 29, with 33/1 chance Silver Birch, despite having not sent out a winner back home, and won the Aintree showpiece again in 2018 with Tiger Roll.
Born - March 2, 1978
Background - A very successful point-to-point rider, Elliott also partnered 46 winners as an amateur under Rules in Ireland and Britain.
He started his racing career while still at school, working at Tony Martin's stable in County Meath. He moved to Britain, joining Martin Pipe, and learnt a lot during his spell in Somerset. His biggest victory as a rider was on board King's Road, trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies, in the 1998 Punchestown Champion Bumper.
Elliott returned to Ireland for another term at Martin's stables. After commencing handling point-to-pointers, he started his main training career from Capranny Stables in Trim, Co Meath in early 2006 and bought 78-acre Cullentra House Farm, Longwood, Co Meath, in 2011, where the facilities have been built up from scratch, with a capacity of over 200 horses, four gallops, three schooling grounds, an equine pool, a natural spa and more.
The trainer has emerged over the last few seasons as the main challenger to Willie Mullins' dominance in Ireland and had a major boost when receiving the pick of 60 horses that Gigginstown House Stud removed from Mullins in September, 2016.
Elliott has yet to be champion Jump trainer in Ireland, finishing runner-up to Willie Mullins for the past six seasons, but has gone very close.
He is part of a select group of trainers to saddle a winner at both The Festival and Royal Ascot, having sent out Commissioned to land the Queen Alexandra Stakes at the prestigious Flat meeting in June, 2016. He also saddled Dirar to win the Ebor Handicap at York in 2010.
First winner as a trainer - Arresting, Fugro-Technip Handicap Hurdle, Perth, June 11, 2006
The Festival™ presented by Magners wins (22)
2011 Chicago Grey National Hunt Chase
2011 Carlito Brigante Coral Cup
2013 Flaxen Flare Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (Fred Winter)
2014 Tiger Roll JCB Triumph Hurdle
2015 Cause Of Causes National Hunt Chase
2016 Diamond King Coral Cup
2016 Cause Of Causes Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Handicap Chase
2016 Don Cossack Magners Cheltenham Gold Cup
2017 Labaik Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle
2017 Apple's Jade OLBG Mares' Hurdle (David Nicholson)
2017 Tiger Roll National Hunt Chase
2017 Cause Of Causes Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase
2017 Fayonagh Weatherbys Champion Bumper
2017 Champagne Classic Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys Handicap Hurdle
2018 Samcro Ballymore Novices' Hurdle (Baring Bingham)
2018 Tiger Roll Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase
2018 Veneer Of Charm Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (Fred Winter)
2018 Shattered Love JLT Novices' Chase (Golden Miller)
2018 Delta Work Pertemps Network Final
2018 The Storyteller Brown Advisory & Merriebelle Stable Plate
2018 Farclas JCB Triumph Hurdle
2018 Blow By Blow Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys Handicap Hurdle
Winner of The Irish Independent Leading Trainer Award at The Festival: 2017, 2018
Gordon Elliott's entries so far at The Festival™
presented by Magners
Champion Day - Tuesday, March 12 (Old Course)
1.30pm £125,000 Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m 87y
Authorizo, Battleoverdoyen, Chosen Mate, Coko Beach, Commander Of Fleet, Eclair De Beaufeu, Felix Desjy, Galvin, Lethal Steps, Surin, Vision d'Honneur, Whoshotthesheriff
2.10pm £175,000 Racing Post Arkle Novices' Chase (Grade1) 1m 7f 199y
Cubomania, Duca De Thaix, Hardline, Mengli Khan
2.50pm £110,000 Ultima Handicap Steeple Chase (Grade 3) 3m 1f
Entries close February 19
3.30pm £450,000 Unibet Champion Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m 87y
Apple's Jade, Farclas, Samcro
4.10pm £120,000 OLBG Mares' Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m 3f 200y
Apple's Jade, Lackaneen Leader, Missy Tata, Tintangle
4.50pm £125,000 National Hunt Chase (Amateur Riders' Novices' Chase) (Grade 2) 3m 7f 147y
Blow By Blow, Champagne Classic, Cubomania, Delta Work, Glenloe, Gun Digger, Hardline
5.30pm £70,000 Close Brothers Novices' Handicap Chase (Listed) 2m 4f 44y
Entries close February 19
Ladies Day - Wednesday, March 13 (Old Course & Cross Country)
1.30pm £125,000 Ballymore Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m 5f
Battleoverdoyen, Chosen Mate, Commander Of Fleet, Dallas Des Pictons, Defi Bleu, Dinons, Eclair De Beaufeu, Felix Desjy, Galvin, Lethal Steps, Swordsman, Vision d'Honneur
2.10pm £175,000 RSA Insurance Novices' Chase (Grade 1) 3m 80y
Blow By Blow, Champagne Classic, Delta Work, Gun Digger, Hardline
2.50pm £100,000 Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3) 2m 5f
Entries close February 19
3.30pm £400,000 Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase (Grade 1) 1m 7f 199y
A Toi Phil, Doctor Phoenix
4.10pm £65,000 Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase 3m 6f 37y
Entries close February 26
4.50pm £80,000 Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3) 2m 87y
Entries close February 19
5.30pm £75,000 Weatherbys Champion Bumper (Grade 1) 2m 87y
Entries close February 26
St Patrick's Thursday - Thursday, March 14 (New Course)
1.30pm £150,000 JLT Novices' Chase (Grade 1) 2m 3f 166y
Ben Dundee, Blow By Blow, Champagne Classic, Cubomania, Delta Work, Duca De Thaix, Gun Digger, Hardline, Mengli Khan
2.10pm £100,000 Pertemps Network Final (Handicap Hurdle) (Grade 3) 2m 7f 213y
Entries close February 19
2.50pm £350,000 Ryanair Chase (Grade 1) 2m 4f 127y
A Toi Phil, Alpha Des Obeaux, Doctor Phoenix, Outlander, Shattered Love, The Storyteller
3.30pm £325,000 Sun Racing Stayers' Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m 7f 213y
Apple's Jade, Cracking Smart, Diamond Cauchois, Dortmund Park, Farclas, Pallasator, Prince Of Scars, Samcro
4.10pm £110,000 Brown Advisory & Merriebelle Stable Plate (Handicap Chase) (Grade 3) 2m 4f 127y
Entries close February 19
4.50pm £90,000 Dawn Run Mares' Novices' Hurdle (Grade 2) 2m 179y
Entries close February 26
5.30pm £70,000 Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Amateur Riders' Handicap Chase 3m 2f
Entries close February 19
Gold Cup Day - Friday, March 15 (New Course)
1.30pm £125,000 JCB Triumph Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m 179y
Authorizo, Chief Justice, Coeur Sublime, Coko Beach, Lethal Steps, Surin
2.10pm £100,000 Randox Health County Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3) 2m 179y
Entries close February 19
2.50pm £125,000 Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m 7f 213y
Battleoverdoyen, Borice, Chosen Mate, Commander Of Fleet, Dallas Des Pictons, Defi Bleu, Dinons, Galvin, Swordsman
3.30pm £625,000 Magners Cheltenham Gold Cup (Grade 1) 3m 2f 70y
Don Poli, Mala Beach, Monbeg Notorious, Noble Endeavor, Outlander, Shattered Love, The Storyteller
4.10pm £45,000 St James's Place Foxhunter Chase 3m 2f 70y
Entries close February 26
4.50pm £70,000 Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle (0-145) 2m 4f 56y
Entries close February 19
5.30pm £110,000 Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Handicap Chase (Grade 3) 2m 62y
Entries close February 19
Winners Of The Irish Independent Leading Trainer Award
|
2018 |
Gordon Elliott IRE (8) |
|
2017 |
Gordon Elliott IRE (6) |
|
2016 |
Willie Mullins IRE (7) |
|
2015 |
Willie Mullins IRE (8) |
|
2014 |
Willie Mullins IRE (4) |
|
2013 |
Willie Mullins IRE (5) |
|
2012 |
Nicky Henderson (7) |
|
2011 |
Willie Mullins IRE (4) |
|
2010 |
Nicky Henderson (3) |
The Festival™ presented by Magners 2019 race programme
Champion Day - Tuesday, March 12 (Old Course) - prize money £1,175,000
Time Race Distance Prize Money
1.30pm Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m 87y £125,000
2.10pm Racing Post Arkle Novices' Chase (Grade1) 1m 7f 199y £175,000
2.50pm Ultima Handicap Chase (Grade 3) 3m 1f £110,000
3.30pm Unibet Champion Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m 87y £450,000
4.10pm OLBG Mares' Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m 3f 200y £120,000
(registered as the David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle)
4.50pm Close Brothers Novices' Handicap Chase (Listed) (0-145) 2m 4f 44y £70,000
5.30pm National Hunt Chase (Amateur Riders' Novices' Chase) (Grade 2) 3m 7f 147y £125,000
Ladies Day - Wednesday, March 13 (Old Course & Cross Country) - prize money £1,020,000
Time Race Distance Prize Money
1.30pm Ballymore Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m 5f £125,000
(registered as the Baring Bingham)
2.10pm RSA Insurance Novices' Chase (Grade 1) 3m 80y £175,000
2.50pm Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3) 2m 5f £100,000
3.30pm Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase (Grade 1) 1m 7f 199y £400,000
4.10pm Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase 3m 6f 37y £65,000
4.50pm Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3) 2m 87y £80,000
(registered as the Fred Winter)
5.30pm Weatherbys Champion Bumper (Grade 1) 2m 87y £75,000
St Patrick's Thursday - Thursday, March 14 (New Course) - prize money £1,195,000
Time Race Distance Prize Money
1.30pm JLT Novices' Chase (Grade 1) (registered as the Golden Miller) 2m 3f 166y £150,000
2.10pm Pertemps Network Final (Handicap Hurdle) (Grade 3) 2m 7f 213y £100,000
2.50pm Ryanair Chase (Grade 1) (registered as the Festival Trophy) (Grade 1)2m 4f 127y £350,000
3.30pm Sun Racing Stayers' Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m 7f 213y £325,000
4.10pm Brown Advisory & Merriebelle Stable Plate (Handicap Chase) (Grade 3) 2m 4f 127y £110,000
4.50pm Dawn Run Mares' Novices' Hurdle (Grade 2) 2m 179y £90,000
5.30pm Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Amateur Riders' Handicap Chase 3m 2f £70,000
Gold Cup Day - Friday, March 15 (New Course) - prize money £1,200,000
Time Race Distance Prize Money
1.30pm JCB Triumph Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m 179y £125,000
2.10pm Randox Health County Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3) 2m 179y £100,000
2.50pm Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m 7f 213y £125,000
(registered as the Spa Novices' Hurdle)
3.30pm Magners Cheltenham Gold Cup (Grade 1) 3m 2f 70y £625,000
4.10pm St James's Place Foxhunter Chase 3m 2f 70y £45,000
4.50pm Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Handicap Chase (Grade 3) 2m 62y £110,000
5.30pm Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle (0-145) 2m 4f 56y £70,000
Cheltenham Racecourse
Cheltenham Racecourse is situated in Prestbury on the northern outskirts of the historic spa town of Cheltenham. The Home of Jump Racing, Cheltenham Racecourse is the venue for the world's pre-eminent Jump meeting. The Festival™ presented by Magners, which happens in March over four days every year, next takes place from Tuesday, March 12, to Friday, March 15, 2019 inclusive and tickets are on sale. Set against the beautiful backdrop of the Cotswolds, Cheltenham Racecourse is a stunning natural arena and offers the highest-quality action throughout the Jump season.
More information is available at www.cheltenham.co.uk and through Twitter (@CheltenhamRaces), Facebook www.facebook.com/thehomeofjumpracing and Instagram (@CheltenhamRaces).
About The Jockey Club
Cheltenham is part of The Jockey Club which stages thrilling sporting occasions including The Randox Health Grand National, The Festival™ presented by Magners and The Investec Derby. Millions of people every year enjoy the special experiences The Jockey Club offers through racing, music, food and entertainment. Governed by Royal Charter, every penny made goes back into British Racing to help the sport thrive. The Jockey Club was founded in 1750 and today is the largest commercial group in Britain's second-biggest spectator sport, operating 15 racecourses nationwide, The National Stud, Jockey Club Estates, Jockey Club Catering, Jockey Club Live and the charity, Racing Welfare. For more information, visit www.thejockeyclub.co.uk
If you need any information about racing at Cheltenham, please contact: Sophia Dale, Communications Manager - Jockey Club Racecourses South West 01242 537 683 sophia.dale@thejockeyclub.co.uk
