How the Cheltenham Festival might have looked if Gordon Elliott had been there

Gordon Elliott as top trainer and Jack Kennedy as leading jockey: the complexion of the 2021 Cheltenham Festival could have been vastly different.

Had that picture not emerged, or Elliott not been swiftly handed a year-long suspension (six months of which were suspended), some plaudits and prizes would have been heading in different directions.

Denise 'Sneezy' Foster, who took over the reins at Cullentra House, would have remained merely a television spectator from her County Meath home and would not have had her name on the Mares' Hurdle roll of honour next to that of Black Tears.

Her two subsequent victories with Mount Ida and Tiger Roll would have counted towards Elliott's total, as would those of Galvin and Cheveley Park Stud duo Sir Gerhard and Quilixios, whose owners chose to move their horses to different trainers.

Galvin (red cap): won the National Hunt Novices' Chase for Ian FergusonCredit: Edward Whitaker

Cheveley Park's decisions proved pivotal as Willie Mullins' and Henry de Bromhead's winners total would have dropped from six to five without their additional support.

De Bromhead would have rightfully still dominated the headlines, thanks to his marvellous training performances in the meeting’s most prestigious races, but Elliott would have pipped Mullins to the leading trainer award.

Leading trainer standings:

Willie Mullins 6
Henry de Bromhead 6
Denise Foster 3
Nicky Henderson 2

Leading trainer standings with Gordon Elliott:

Gordon Elliott 6
Willie Mullins 5
Henry de Bromhead 5
Nicky Henderson 2

Rachael Blackmore was the undisputed headline act from the weighing room, but the presence of Elliott would have been of huge benefit to Jack Kennedy, who would have been in line to claim a first festival jockey title.

Although Kennedy retained the ride on the vanquished Envoi Allen, it was Blackmore who rode Sir Gerhard and Quilixios so expertly to victory, rides Kennedy would have been expected to pick up under normal circumstances.

If like Blackmore he had produced the goods on that pair, that would have left the Gold Cup winning-rider on six winners for the week, against Blackmore’s four.

Food for thought, like so much more during a riveting week at the foot of Cleeve Hill.

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