Gordon Elliott is confident Ginto can maintain an unbeaten record over hurdles by winning the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham next week.
The six-year-old is unbeaten in three races since taking to obstacles this season and Elliott has confirmed he prefers a bid at the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle on day two of the Festival, for which his charge is currently a 9/2 shot in the antepost betting.
Ballymore Novices' Hurdle
? "With a lead, he'll be twice the horse. He is made for this race" - Gordon Elliott
— BoyleSports (@BoyleSports) March 9, 2022""
? First up on Day Two from our #CheltenhamFestival Preview night, it's the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle!
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BET ON THE BALLYMORE NOVICES' HURDLE AT CHELTENHAM ON BOYLESPORTS.COM
“Ginto has an entry in the Albert Bartlett too, but at the moment I’m probably going to go with the Ballymore,” the Cullentra trainer told us this week.
“He’s not as slow as people make him out to be. He’s a horse with a bit of class, he’s always shown us a lot at home and I’d be more afraid of Sir Gerhard in the Supreme Novices’ than the Ballymore.
"I think Ginto is made for this race. The last day Jack Kennedy rode him he might not have looked impressive, but Jack had to make the running with him, and I think with a lead he’ll be twice the horse.”
Elliott was also bullish about his chances of taking out even money favourite Facile Vega in the Champion Bumper, with American Mike currently rated the biggest danger to Willie Mullins’ hot prospect at 5/2.
Champion Bumper
? "If I could train one Bumper horse in Europe, this would be him" - Gordon Elliott
— BoyleSports (@BoyleSports) March 9, 2022""
? Last up from Day 2 of our Cheltenham Preview night, It's the Champion Bumper
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“You absolutely have to respect the Mullins camp. But the race has been lucky for me and if you go back to Facile Vega, he won the bumper at Leopardstown in a time of 3:59, while American Mike won a bumper in Navan, which is a tougher track and arguably on tougher ground in 3:54.
“I don’t say it too often, but I think American Mike is a very, very good horse and you don’t hear Jamie Codd talking a horse up like this too often either. I think he has a great chance and I think he could be a champion.”
The panel also spoke about other races, including the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase & Champion Chase. Check them out below!
Brown Advisory Novices' Chase
? "He's a banker if he runs in this. He looks a future Gold Cup winner" - Bryan Cooper
— BoyleSports (@BoyleSports) March 9, 2022""
? Next, it's the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase from our #Cheltenham Preview night!
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"He's a banker if he runs in this. He looks a future Gold Cup winner" Bryan Cooper said.
Champion Chase
? "He's never proven he can run in England the way he can in Ireland" - Philip Enright
— BoyleSports (@BoyleSports) March 9, 2022""
? Next up, it's the Champion Chase from our Cheltenham Preview night!
? Over to you @gelliott_racing, @92bryan92, @jackkennedy15 & @BoyleSportsLB.#CheltenhamFestival #Racing pic.twitter.com/EZMqPOV05G
"He's never proven he can run in England the way he can in Ireland" Philip Enright said.
ABOUT THE FESTIVAL
The Cheltenham Festival for 2022 is finally here!
The biggest event on the sporting and betting calendar of the year is set for an EPIC four days of racing, starting on Tuesday 15th March and ending on Friday 18th March. It’s considered one of, if not the biggest horse racing event, around the world.
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There’s 14 Grade One races as the best jockeys, horse and trainers battle it out, including the Gold Cup, Champion Hurdle, Queen Mother Champion Chase, Stayers’ Hurdle and many more.
New to it? Buckle up and enjoy the ride! The Festival is one of a kind and highlighted for its amazing atmosphere, including the “Cheltenham roar” from the crowd ahead of the first race on Day One. Epic Cheltenham has arrived!