Elliott ponders Windsor run for Gerri Colombe
PROMISING SIGNS: Gerri Colombe has showed Gordon Elliott 'a bit of spark' in recent days. Picture: Mike Egerton/PA
Gordon Elliott is contemplating running Gerri Colombe in the Fitzdares Fleur de Lys Chase at Windsor on January 19.
Last season's Gold Cup runner-up, who went on to win the Betfair Bowl at Aintree subsequently, made a lacklustre return to action in the autumn at Down Royal when he trailed in a well-beaten third behind Envoi Allen.
He has been conspicuous by his absence in the big races since and Elliott would not even worry if he did not run before the big spring festivals.
However, should he show enough on the Cullentra gallops in the coming days, the two-mile-six-furlong prize previously run at Lingfield could be on the agenda.
"He's going to be entered in Windsor, but whether we get him there or not is another thing," said Elliott.
"He showed me a bit of spark this week which is the first time in a month.
"If I don't have him until the spring then I'm not going to panic. Let the rest of them race away and we'll pick our battles."
Meanwhile, Iroko is being readied for an outing on Festival Trials day at Cheltenham following his early exit at Ascot last month.
The Cheltenham Festival-winning hurdler made a promising start to his campaign when narrowly denied by Trelawne in a graduation chase at Haydock in November and he was a hot favourite to go one better at Ascot's pre-Christmas meeting, but fell at the first fence after being hampered.
Josh Guerriero, who trains the JP McManus-owned gelding in partnership with Oliver Greenall, reports Iroko to be none the worse for the experience and he is now set for a trip to the Cotswolds as connections plot a route to the Randox Grand National in the spring.
Guerriero said: "He's come out of it fine and it was just annoying as when you get knocked over at the first there's not a lot you can do.
"We'll go to Cheltenham now on Trials day for a handicap and we're definitely still aiming at the National with him. We'll work our way somehow."
Five days after Iroko's fall, his stablemate White Rhino also came to grief in the Kauto Star Novices' Chase at Kempton, unseating Henry Brooke at the third fence having impressed in winning his first two starts over fences at Ayr and Haydock.
The nine-year-old is being targeted at the Cheltenham Festival, but which race he will run in come March is likely to become clearer after his next run.
"That was annoying as well and again it was just one of those things," Guerriero added.
"I'm not sure where we'll go now really, we might have go at the Reynoldstown at Ascot and if all goes well there we'll still head for the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham.
"If he went and won the Reynoldstown we might have to reroute, but I wouldn't mind that!"
