'He just does what he has to do' - star stayer Teahupoo all set for Hatton's Grace hat-trick bid

Gordon Elliott, fresh from a sensational weekend at Navan, is readying a strong squad for another winter festival in his home county of Meath where Teahupoo will bid for a third successive Hatton's Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse on December 1.

Teahupoo defeated Klassical Dream and Honeysuckle in the 2m4f Grade 1 in 2022 before following up last season, instigating an unbeaten campaign which yielded further top-level successes in the Stayers' Hurdle at Cheltenham and Punchestown.

The seven-year-old will follow an identical route this term and Elliott reports him in fine fettle for his seasonal reappearance.

"Teahupoo is in great form," he said. "He doesn't do anything fancy at home and just does what he has to do. We have it in our head that we'd go the same route as last year which is Fairyhouse, Cheltenham and Punchestown."

Mighty Potter, Envoi Allen and Don Cossack are some of the star names who have landed the Grade 1 Drinmore Novice Chase for the Cullentra stable and Elliott will be strongly represented in this season's renewal with Grade 1-winning novice hurdler Farren Glory, Croke Park and the prolific Shecouldbeanything all set to line up.

Teahupoo is the apple of groom Erika Peciulyte's eyeCredit: INPHO/Morgan Treacy

Better Days Ahead, who lowered the colours of last season's Supreme winner Slade Steel on his first start over fences on Sunday, is also in contention, along with Firefox and Down Memory Lane, who have both scored on their chase debuts this season.

"I was impressed with Better Days Ahead on Sunday and the Drinmore is an option," said Elliott. "In an ideal world, you'd have three runs before Cheltenham so he could go Drinmore and then Christmas or Christmas and somewhere else.

"Farren Glory, Croke Park and Shecouldbeanything will run in the Drinmore all going well. Firefox and Down Memory Lane are possibilities. We could have four runners."

Elliott has Romeo Coolio pencilled in for the Grade 2 Royal Bond Novice Hurdle after last season's Champion Bumper runner-up made a seamless transition to jumping this month at Down Royal, where he eased 18 lengths clear.

Sam Ewing on Romeo Coolio and Jack Kennedy on Brighterdaysahead (right) lead a string of horses on the gallopsCredit: INPHO/Morgan Treacy

He said: "Romeo Coolio will go straight to the Royal Bond. He has settled a lot from last season and he's a classy horse. Two and a half miles wouldn't be a problem but I don't think I've too many quicker than him so I'd imagine he'll stay over two miles."

A decision will be made this week on Brighterdaysahead's next assignment after she made a winning return in the Grade 3 Bottlegreen Hurdle at Down Royal. An impressive winner of the Mersey Novices' Hurdle, she has entries in the Morgiana this weekend, the Hatton's Grace and the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle.

Ellliott said: "I thought Brighterdaysahead was good at Down Royal. There's no decision on where she's going to go yet. I'll have a chat with the lads this week but she's come out of Down Royal very well and we're looking forward to getting her out soon. 

"We toyed with going chasing but Michael [O'Leary, owner] was keen to stay hurdling and she's only five so she's got a lot of years in front of her hopefully."

Gordon Elliott watches his string of horses on the Cullentra gallopsCredit: INPHO/Morgan Treacy

Five-time Grade 1 winner Gerri Colombe underwhelmed on his return at Down Royal but the Savills Chase at Leopardstown remains on the agenda, while Found A Fifty will also reappear at Christmas having landed the Fortria Chase at Navan on Saturday.

"Gerri Colombe seems to be fine since Down Royal but I was disappointed with him," said Elliott. "He always gives you everything but I thought the writing was on the wall very early at Down Royal so he didn't run his race. He'll probably go to the Savills now and we'll keep him on the original route. 

"Found A Fifty did it well at Navan. Jack [Kennedy] said if he had another go, he would have taken his time a bit more as he made a lot of ground from the fifth to the third-last. He looks an exciting horse and we'll probably keep him to two miles over Christmas."

Read more:

'We want to go down the Gold Cup route and I feel he can do it' - Skelton's big expectations for Grey Dawning's Betfair Chase comeback 

JP McManus supplements Willie Mullins-trained Grade 1 winner for Betfair Chase after Corbetts Cross misses out 

Navan: Better Days Ahead takes scalp of Slade Steel and the Albert Bartlett has a new favourite on another superb day for Gordon Elliott

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