Vercingetorix on Triumph trail for Elliott
Formerly with Andre Fabre on the Flat, he is one of four top-class four-year-olds owned by Simon Munir and Isaac Souede as they are lucky enough to have Triumph Hurdle favourite Peace and Co and Top Notch with Nicky Henderson and Grade One winner Bristol De Mai with Nigel Twiston-Davies.
He will face a different standard of opponent to those he dismissed at Limerick over Christmas but he certainly looked worth a big step up in grade.
“His work has been very good. He didn’t beat a whole lot at Limerick but you’d have to like the way he did it,” said Elliott. “He came from France from Andre Fabre with a nice rating and does everything right at home. He’ll have to improve an awful lot but we’re hopeful he’s in good form.
“On his work and what he’s shown us he’s the best (juvenile) we have. I was impressed at Limerick and we’re hoping he’s come on for the run. I think the better ground will help and it will tell us whether we are going for the Triumph Hurdle or a different route.”
Elliott also runs Chatam House Rule who benefited from a good front-running ride to beat Willie Mullins’ Petite Parisienne but have previously been a long way behind Mullins’ Kalkir.
Chatam House Rule will meet both of those rivals again with Mullins expecting much better from both as Kalkir was subsequently beaten by Fiscal Focus.
He said: “They Kalkir and Fiscal Focus) finished 16 lengths clear of the third horse that day.
“I’d say the winner didn’t run his race the other day, he faced a huge task coming back so quick against Hurricane Fly and Jezki. I feel Kalkir has more to give.
“Petite was very unlucky at Punchestown. She was second, she gave away lengths at an important part of the race and I felt she was very unlucky.
“We’re just going to run her. If she runs well she’ll go to Cheltenham and maybe Punchestown. If she wins one then that’s her season, if not she’ll be a really nice novice next season.
“We debated whether to run but said we may as well go for the big races and if she wins it’s worth our while.”
Noel Meade runs two but his chief hope is Officieux, a 12-length winner from a subsequent scorer since.
“We always thought he was quite a nice horse, he just ran too keen in his early races,” said Meade.
“We decided to make the running with him last time, he settled better in front and did it well. Whether he had a free run at it that day, I’m not sure, but we’ll try and get him settled again and see what he can do.”
A meeting took place on Monday between various official parties which included racecourse manager Michael Murphy, clerk of the course Val O’Connell, Horse Racing Ireland officials and several representatives of other organisations.
Having considered all the different viewpoints the licensing committee decided to allow a trial day to take place on Tuesday, April 21.
