Elliott sets sights on Cheltenham success

GRAND National-winning trainer Gordon Elliott has set his sights on a first Cheltenham Festival success after Harper Valley lowered Franchoek’s colours on Saturday.

Sent off at 10-1 at Cheltenham, where he was having just his third start over timber, Elliott’s three-year-old proved one and a half lengths too strong for Alan King’s ante-post JCB Triumph Hurdle favourite.

Harper Valley is now as short as 12-1 for the Triumph in March, and Elliott is already plotting a return to Prestbury Park.