Gerri Colombe on the comeback trail
BACK IN THE GROOVE: Gerri Colombe and Shane McCann lead the pack on the gallops at Gordon Elliott's Cullentra base on Monday. Picture: Healy Racing
Gerri Colombe is being readied for a return to action, although Gordon Elliott expects him to have to reach new heights this season if he is to make the frame in the Gold Cup.
The nine-year-old was second to Galopin Des Champs in the headline Cheltenham event in 2024, but has not been seen for over a year after a stifle injury interrupted his career.
It was not a serious issue but fell at an inopportune time, with the gelding now back in business and aiming for a Christmas comeback ahead of a campaign that his trainer acknowledges will require him to be at his very best.
Speaking on Monday at a media visit to his Cullentra yard, he said: "He's in good form, he's cantering away this morning. It's probably going to be Christmas realistically before we get him out.
"He'll have an entry at Leopardstown, but whether Tramore might suit him better, we'll see. He'd just be ready to start off there.
"It was a stifle and it just happened at the wrong time of year. It was just bad timing.
"I think he's going to have to up his game to be a Gold Cup horse. He looks good, he's moving well and he's in great form, we'll start him him off and see how we go.
"I'd love to dream and say he's a Gold Cup horse, but I think even on his second in the Gold Cup he will have to improve from what he is at the moment."
One horse of Elliott's who has already hit her stride this term is Wodhooh, who won the Ascot Hurdle at the weekend and will be kept in mind for several Grade One events at the Cheltenham Festival.
"I was delighted with her, she was very good. She just does what she has to do, Danny (Gilligan, jockey) said when he gave her a squeeze she was very quick," Elliott said.
"She's unassuming, it's hard to know where she'll go. She has all options open, there's race at Doncaster and a race in Windsor in mid-January. She'll have entries everywhere and we'll see where she'll go.
"This morning I'd say the mares' race (Mares' Hurdle) should be where she'll be going, but the Stayers' Hurdle and the Champion Hurdle aren't out of the question.
"She's so lackadaisical and laid-back, she's not fancy working and nothing fazes her, but she just keeps winning.
"She gave Lossiemouth a run for a her money (when second in the Aintree Hurdle) and I think she's a stronger mare and a better mare this year."
Brighterdaysahead is one of the biggest names in Elliott's yard and is limbering up for a chasing campaign, with preparations slightly halted ahead of her highly-anticipated debut over fences.
"We missed a week with her so Fairyhouse might come quick enough for her, I'd imagine it will be Christmas before we start her off," Elliott explained. "She just gave us a little twist behind schooling.
"She's cracking, it'd be ideal to get her over a fence at Christmas but you have to deal with the cards you're handed.
"She's jumped class, she's been awesome, but she just twisted a leg behind."
Teahupoo, meanwhile, is on course to bid for a hat-trick of wins in the Bar One Racing Hatton's Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse on Sunday, having been foiled 12 months ago by Lossiemouth.
Elliott said: "Teahupoo will definitely go, he's in great form. I was thinking of going to Ascot for the Long Walk, but with the way the ground is we should be going to Fairyhouse."
Over fences Romeo Coolio has already made an impression after winning at the first time of asking, and the Bar One Racing Drinmore Novice Chase, also on Sunday at Fairyhouse, now awaits.
"Romeo is our horse for the Drinmore, I'd say just him," Elliott said of the six-year-old, who was third in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle in March and second at Aintree.
"He's got good form, he's a good horse. I've always thought jumping fences would be his job and would be the making of him.
"I think two and a half is his trip, he could come back to two miles but two and a half is his trip."
