“She’ll get that next season” as Elliott shifts Brighterdaysahead to hurdle title defence The Christmas countdown is almost complete and, for racing fans, the show only gets going after the turkey sandwiches have been sliced and diced post-December 25th. From St Stephen's Day onwards, a week of top-class racing will unfold, unmatched in the calendar for frequency in such a condensed timeframe. Leopardstown, Limerick, Down Royal and Punchestown play their part in Ireland, while Kempton, Aintree, Chepstow, Newbury and Cheltenham are among the venues putting their shoulders to the festive wheel in Britain. Gordon Elliott has been in scintillating form across recent weeks, twice landing four-timers at big Irish meetings, and we are looking at five Cullentra runners that could have a say this Christmas. Romeo Coolio Romeo Coolio could turn into the most exciting horse in Elliott's care over the coming months. The strapping Kayf Tara gelding was smart but perhaps not top class as a novice hurdler last season — making the frame behind Kopek Des Bordes in the Supreme and second to Salvator Mundi at Aintree after his Grade 1 Christmas success at Leopardstown. He's headed for the Foxrock track again this festive season, already 2-2 over fences and having looked every inch a star in the Drinmore Novice Chase at Fairyhouse in November. The Grade 1 Racing Post Novice Chase at Leopardstown on December 26th is next as he looks to further embellish his Arkle claims. Brighterdaysahead After much will she-won't she debate, it's now clear that Brighterdaysahead won't be going novice chasing just yet and, instead, the Gigginstown mare will attempt to repeat last year's heroics in the December Hurdle at Leopardstown (December 29th), when she thrashed State Man and others by 30 lengths and more. Things went awry for her in the spring and going chasing was the plan in the summer but, for one reason or another, it hasn't happened and now the Cullentra handler has put it on the back burner. "Look, it wasn't the initial plan to run her here, but we've got to that stage of the season where half of it is gone and it's probably a bit late to be going chasing," he said. "You would like to have a full season of novice chasing for her and she'll get that next season." Gerri Colombe Elliott's top staying chaser is Gerri Colombe and the soon-to-be 10-year-old is set for his seasonal return in the Savills Chase, where a likely tussle with Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Inothewayurthinkin awaits. This Robcour runner has form figures over fences of 11121-1221-3 in his three seasons but 13 months have gone by since he was third to course specialist Envoi Allen in the Champion Chase at Down Royal. He has won four out of five comebacks after layoffs and with big guns like Gaelic Warrior and Fact To File bound for the King George at Kempton, this Leopardstown feature might not be as deep as it could be. He was second to Galopin Des Champs in the 2023 running. Teahupoo There's a feeling Teahupoo only just scraped home when he held off Ballyburn in the Hatton's Grace at Fairyhouse on their respective comebacks on an afternoon when Elliott and Jack Kennedy hoovered up the graded prizes. An immediate rematch in the Christmas Hurdle over three miles at Leopardstown (December 28th) is looming, with the extra distance set to change the challenge slightly. Ballyburn was applying lots of pressure in the 2m4f Hatton's Grace on the run to the line but Teahupoo is the proven three miler, though yet to contest a race at Leopardstown. Koktail Brut The Grade 1 Paddy Power Future Champions Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown (December 27th) is on the agenda for Koktail Brut and it's a contest Elliot won 12 months ago with Romeo Coolio. Sortudo and Love Me Tender are potential rivals from the Mullins squad as Koktail Brut looks to step on his gutsy Royal Bond win at Fairyhouse late last month and improve his record over hurdles to 3-3.
