'Upsetting for the industry': Woe for Gordon Elliott as Envoi Allen heads high-profile exits

Having stated that they were “truly horrified and dismayed by the photograph,” it was inevitable, but nonetheless it a huge blow to Elliott and his team

Gordon Elliott: Cheveley Park Stud has removed its eight horses from under his care. Picture: Simon Cooper/PA Wire.

Gordon Elliott has already begun to pay the price of the ill-judged and inexcusable image of him astride a dead horse on his gallops as leading owner Cheveley Park Stud has removed its eight horses from under his care.

In a stable of hundreds of horses, the number is small, but the quality considerable. The team, which includes Marsh Novices’ Chase favourite Envoi Allen and other leading Cheltenham Festival fancies Quilixios, Ballyadam, and Sir Gerhard, have been split between Henry De Bromhead and Willie Mullins, both of whom have already provided Cheltenham Festival success for the owners.