Can Conflated become the latest cross-country star for Gordon Elliott?

Gordon Elliott has popularised using the cross-country route for his ageing top-class staying chasers and now it is Conflated’s turn. He follows esteemed stablemates Delta Work, Galvin and most notably Tiger Roll by exploring this avenue in the twilight of his career.

Meeting lesser opposition is understandably an attractive proposition for Conflated. He is rising 11 and would struggle against Galopin Des Champs or Fastorslow in a Grade 1 race, while his lofty BHA mark forces six of his eight rivals to be wrong at the weights. 

The 7lb claim of seasoned amateur rider Rob James, a go-to man for Elliott's highly rated stars in handicaps, eases Conflated's weight-carrying burden and he is a class apart if adapting to this unique style of racing. 

However, Elliott has had many similar types beaten in this contest and Conflated has unseated or fallen nine times in 38 starts (37 under rules and one in a point-to-point). That is a small concern for any newcomer to this unusual test of jumping. 

The only two horses who will race from their correct marks are Busselton and Tommie Beau and both are also fresh to the cross-country game. In the case of Tommie Beau, even Cheltenham is alien to him.

Mister Coffey (right) jumps the last in the 2023 Grand National alongside Corach Rambler Credit: John Grossick

Mister Coffey is a talented but quirky customer who may find himself inspired by the course's nuances, but surely prefers slower conditions, and any horse with fourth-season novice status clearly comes with baggage. 

Perhaps the best alternative to Conflated is French raider Sweet David, whose trainer Gabriel Leenders saddled Gold Tweet to win the Cleeve last year. Gold Tweet was only rated 136 heading into the Cleeve and still managed to brush aside leading staying hurdlers Dashel Drasher and Paisley Park.

Sweet David may be 13lb wrong here, but is a young, improving horse who is 2-3 on good ground and has taken nicely to cross-country racing in France. That could make all the difference.
Analysis by Robbie Wilders

'It won't be easy for him' - Elliott wary of topweight challenge

It is no exaggeration to say the entire race revolves around Conflated, with only Tommie Beau and Busselton able to run off their correct weight owing to the presence of Gigginstown's 166-rated performer. 

Gordon Elliott should know what it takes to identify the right material among Grade 1 stars in need of a fresh challenge, having produced Delta Work, Galvin and – to a lesser extent – Tiger Roll in similar fashion. 

Conflated is the latest Gordon Elliott star to bring Grade 1-winning form to the cross-country table Credit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

Elliott said: "He's obviously got a lot of weight and it won't be easy for him giving so much weight away to some good horses. 

"He has schooled particularly well over the banks and seemed to enjoy himself, so it's going to be very interesting to see how he gets on. He's a classy horse and hopefully he will take to it."

What they say

Seamus Mullins, trainer of Tommie Beau
We've done a couple of rounds at a cross-country course near us here in Wiltshire, which all went very well. We brought him up to Cheltenham on Monday and Micheal [Nolan] rode him over a selection of the cross-country fences and he seemed to enjoy his morning out, so we're going to give it a go. Micheal has been advocating him as being suitable for these races for a couple of seasons now. We think he'll adapt. To be in the handicap-proper is a great help. Obviously Conflated is a serious horse and Gordon is looking at something different for him. I think Grade 1 horses have a big advantage in handicaps even though they're highly weighted. The French horse is interesting as well, he's well out of the handicap but he's run well in his two most recent races. We're fit and well and hopefully this will give him a new lease of life.

Tommie Beau: successful in regional Nationals and now tries the cross-country sphereCredit: John Grossick

Joseph O'Brien, trainer of Busselton
Busselton has his first run over the banks, so it will be interesting to see how he goes. Obviously the main objective is for him to get the experience and get round safely. He's in good form and he is the type that could take to it.

Nicky Henderson, trainer of Mister Coffey
We took him there last week to have a practice and it went well. It's a novelty and he enjoyed himself. He's a perennial maiden and you want to find a little race he can win, but he's rated 137 and it's hard to win off that mark.

Ben Pauling, trainer of Slipway
We went to the track on Tuesday morning. and he was very good. He learned how to come down off the banks and things like that. He jumped very nicely and I think the race will suit. The trip will be fine and he seems in good order. I think he could go back to park fences easily but it's a different sort of challenge and if we find out he enjoys it at this stage of the season, it opens up a few doors for him later in the season.

Gabriel Leenders (holding trophy) is no stranger to success at CheltenhamCredit: John Grossick

Gabriel Leenders, trainer of Sweet David
It's quite the exploit that he could finish second in the Grand Cross de Craon at the age of five and in only his first season in this discipline. He ran a lot at three and four and he was fairly fatigued at the end of last year and, I think, a little weary of racing at a high tempo. Cross-country racing demands less cruising speed and the tracks are always on the turn, and I think he has rediscovered his appetite for the fight.
Reporting by Scott Burton and Conor Fennelly

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