Grand National 2023: Record-equalling fourth win would be “dream come true” for Gordon Elliott

Gordon Elliotthas said it would be “a dream come true” if one of his 19 entries in Aintree’s Randox Grand National 2023 can help him equal the record of training four winners of the race.

By Graham Clark

The County Meath-based handler only took out a trainer’s license in 2006 and had already won his first Grand National at Aintree just a year later when Silver Birch was triumphant in 2007.

Tiger Roll then landed the world-famous race in 2018 and 2019 before Coronavirus forced the cancellation of the 2020 renewal and ended hopes of an historic hat-trick attempt for his stable star.

Elliott saddled seven runners in the race in 2022 but could eclipse that number this year with his current tally of entries standing at 19.

Victory for one of them would see him join Ginger McCain, Fred Rimell and 19th Century trainer George Dockery as a four-time winner of the race and he said: “It would be nice to win the race for a fourth time and hopefully we will have a good team on our side so we will give it a good go.

“It would be unbelievable if we could win it for a record equalling fourth time and really would be a dream come true.” 

Elliott’s highest rated contender is Conflated, whose mark of 167 and weight of 11st 12lbs comes as no surprise.

He said: “Conflated has won two Grade One chases at Leopardstown including last year’s Irish Gold Cup and we knew he would be close to top weight or have top weight.

“He will go to Cheltenham first for the Gold Cup and we will see from there whether he will be one for the Grand National this season or next season. He would be a very classy horse to have in the race. I could see him being a horse for the National but it might be a year too early to run him in the race.”

Another of Elliott’s intended runners with a date at Cheltenham between now and Aintree is Galvin, who is just a pound lighter than his stablemate on 11st 11lbs.

Elliott said: “He started off the season very well winning a Grade Three at Punchestown but his form has just tapered off a bit. He has just had a little procedure done on his back and he is back working well.

“The plan is to run him in the Cross Country race at Cheltenham then on the National. We sort of thought last season that he could be one for the National as we thought he was probably just lacking a gear for races like the Gold Cup and those sort of Grade One races.

“He seems in good form and we are looking forward to running him in the National. I think he will be fine over the fences.”

Fury Road is further down the field at 11st 6lbs and Elliott added: “He will probably be a doubtful runner I would say at the moment. We will probably just go for the Ryanair and see after that.

“If I was a betting man, I’d say he might not go for it this season but we will keep all options open. He would definitely have a nice weight for the race and he ran well at Leopardstown the last day.”

Stablemate Delta Work, another of Elliott’s entries owned by Michael O’Leary’s Gigginstown House Stud, is on 11st 4lbs after finishing third in 2022 and Elliott admitted: “This has been the plan all season. He has a nice weight for the race and I’m happy with that.

“We just switched him back to hurdles on his last start to sharpen him up a bit as he had gone a little bit rusty. It was a race we had run Tiger Roll in before he went to Cheltenham and then on to Aintree. I thought he ran very well in the National last season behind Noble Yeats. He got a little bit far back early on and he had lots to do. Having had that experience over the fences we go back there with plenty of confidence and we are looking forward to it.”

Handicapper Martin Greenwood was given some 11th-hour homework to do by Coko Beach, who won less than 48 hours before the Grand National weights were revealed.

Greenwood settled on a rating of 155 and a weight of 11st and Elliott said: “It was a great run to win the Grand National trial at Punchestown. He jumps great and he enjoyed the ground. He will definitely run in the race.

“I thought it was a good run in the race last year when he finished eighth and he is another we are looking forward to taking back over again.”

Further back on 10st 12lbs is Pencilfulloflead, who Elliott described as “in good form”.

He went on: “He is a good horse and has a lovely weight on his back. He ran very well in the Thyestes the last day. He is good now, but we just had a few issues with him early on.

“He is sound now and is in good form. He is on the right side of the 11 stone mark and he is exactly in the sort of place where we want to be in the race. He should enjoy a test like this.”

Escaria Ten could be one of two runners for owner Max McNeill if Threeunderthrufive also runs in his colours for British Champion Trainer Paul Nicholls.

However, Elliott was cautious and said: “He just didn’t get home in the race last year. Whether we run him or not I don’t know but we made a speculative entry to have a look at it.

“He is not a definite runner and we will have a chat with the owners to see how we are. He was well thought of for the race last season and he travelled well for a long way but he simply didn’t get home from the second last. He has a nice weight on his back with 10st 10lbs so we won’t rule anything out.”

Stablemate Farclas also has 10st 10lbs and Elliott added: “He ran well in the race in 2021 when he finished fifth. The plan was to go there again last year but he got a little setback. He has a lovely weight on his back and all being well he will go back there this year.”

On 10st 4lbs Ash Tree Meadow would need six horses to come out and despite that being highly likely, Elliott is expecting to run him in the race for the first time in 2024.

He explained: “He probably won’t run in it this year and instead head for the Irish Grand National. He does run well fresh. He is still a novice over fences though and I would say it is more than likely we will see him in the race in 12 months’ time.”

Another on the same weight is Battleoverdoyen, and Elliott said: “We will have a roll of the dice in the race with him. He has been a great horse for the yard over the years and he always gives his all and the plan is to go to the National. He was a Grade One horse back in the day. He jumps very well so he should give a good account of himself.”

Despite being 12 years old, Elliott is also expecting Death Duty (10st) to play a part in the race in April, providing enough horses come out. He said: “Death Duty ran a great race in the Grand National Trial at Punchestown on Sunday. For him the race would suit him if he got in off a low weight. He still shows plenty of life at home.”

Also on 10st is Dunboyne and Elliott added: “He put up a great run in the Thyestes and he was only beaten a head. Hopefully he might sneak in. I think the National is a race that is made for him. He could be one that could creep into the places if he is fortunate enough to get in the race.”

Of his remaining entries he added: “I can’t see Defi BleuGevreyMilan NativePunitiveFakiera or Mortal getting into the race.”

 

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