Elliott sets sights on Cheltenham success
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.
“He’s not too bad this lad. More of a galloping track and the better ground at Cheltenham suited him,” he said.
“The ground was probably a bit too heavy at Fairyhouse (the time before), where we fancied him.
“To be fair, I thought he’d run a big race on Saturday, but I didn’t think he’d beat the favourite,” said Elliott.
“He’ll probably go for another novice hurdle at the start of February and then on to Cheltenham for the Triumph Hurdle.”
Meanwhile, Eoin Griffin has been forced back to square one with Kazal and does not think his fallen star will attempt chasing again for the rest of the season.
The fine winner of five consecutive Graded novice hurdles last term has not taken to fences in such a way.
Although his jumping was acceptable in the main on his debut in this month’s Drinmore Novice Chase at Fairyhouse, Kazal ended up falling at the third last.
He fared even worse on his follow-up at the same track last week, making a mistake at the first before unseating his rider at the second.
The six-year-old is now almost certain not to take up his engagement in the Knight Frank Ganly Walters Novice Chase at Leopardstown on December 28.
“We are back to the drawing board really and he is going to have to revert back to hurdles.reported Kilkenny-based Griffin.
“I hope he might be back for the Galmoy Hurdle at Gowran Park some time at the end of January and he can get his confidence back.
“We would then think about preserving his novice chase status and starting again next season.”
