'He's getting better and stronger' - Piper among huge Elliott Leopardstown team

Pied Piper avoided a clash with jump racing's newest idol Constitution Hill last Saturday but the Champion Hurdle hopeful will dive into the deep end at Leopardstown next month with Gordon Elliott giving him the go-ahead to contest the Matheson Hurdle.

The entries for the seven Grade 1 races and the Paddy Power Chase staged at Leopardstown's four-day Christmas extravaganza were released on Monday and Elliott is assembling a huge army for the occasion.

Conflated caught him by surprise last season and the Irish Gold Cup winner will return next month in a bid to give his trainer a fourth win in the Savills Chase, where he is likely to be joined by last year's winner Galvin and another stablemate, Fury Road.

Speaking at a press morning organised by Leopardstown and Horse Racing Ireland, Elliott said: "Leopardstown at Christmas is brilliant. The atmosphere is second to none and it’s one of the best racecourses in Ireland. We'll be busy over the four days and if I got a winner a day I’d be happy. I’m never too greedy.

"Pied Piper's next run will be in the Matheson Hurdle and he has got a lot stronger this season. He's improving with every run and he's a very nice horse.

"He’s two from two this season but we know he's going to have to improve again to get to Grade 1 level but he has definitely got a lot stronger."

Sharjah is chasing an astonishing fifth win in the Matheson Hurdle. Unsurprisingly, his name is one of five trained by Willie Mullins as State Man, Vauban, Saldier and Echoes In Rain are also possibles.

Elliott said of his Savills team: "I was very happy with Conflated at Down Royal. He had a good blow and will come on an awful lot for the run. He probably surprised me a bit when he won the Irish Gold Cup – I didn’t know he was that good. He’s a fair horse on his day and his aim is the Savills Chase.

"Galvin scoped dirty after the race at Down Royal but he’s back in good nick now. He’s got a big heart. He finished fourth in the Cheltenham Gold Cup and probably doesn’t get the credit he deserves. Fury Road will love the ground at Leopardstown."

Among the 17 entries for the Savills Chase are Gold Cup hero A Plus Tard, winner of the race in 2020, and current Gold Cup favourite Galopin Des Champs. There is no British-based entry but National Hunt Chase winner Stattler does feature, as well as Envoi Allen and Minella Indo.

Elliott admitted that possibly the strongest contenders on his teamsheet are his novice chasers. Fil Dor and Hollow Games, both impressive winners of beginners' chases at Navan, could clash in the Brand New Racing Post App Novice Chase on December 26, where Appreciate It, Dysart Dynamo, El Fabiolo and Sir Gerhard all hold entries for Mullins.

Elliott said: "Fil Dor was foot perfect at Navan, he attacked his fences. He always looked like he was going to be a chaser and he'll definitely head to Leopardstown. I might have been running Hollow Games over the wrong distance last year. I was trying to make him into a stayer but the way he ran over 2m1f at Navan the last day, it just might be his trip."

On Sunday's big disappointment American Mike, Elliott said: "He wasn’t right after the race so he’s having a few easy weeks and see where we are. It was disappointing but he's a very, very good horse. We know what the problem is and we just have to iron it out now."

Leopardstown CEO Tim Husbands said he "could not be happier with the quality of entries for the seven Grade 1 races and the Paddy Power Chase" and the going is currently yielding on the hurdle track and good to yielding, yielding in places on the chase course.

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