Elliott looking forward to the weekend Gordon Elliott has twenty-seven horses declared to run over the two days of the Dublin Racing Festival. It's little wonder that he's looking forward to the weekend with great anticipation as he told journalist Dave Keena, to whom he also provided updates on some of the stable's main players at Leopardstown. "It’s a great atmosphere when you have a winner there, to hear the cheering," said Elliott. "Especially for the the owners, they enjoy all that, that’s what they’re in the game for, to get the buzz of people being there and to get the adrenaline going. We’re looking forward to the two days and it’s great racing. I walked the track the other day and the ground was in great condition. Hopefully if it’s maintained at that it will be a great weekend. "We’ve got Hollow Games and Minella Crooner in the first race on Saturday, the 2m6f novice hurdle. Hollow Games was a bit unlucky (behind Ginto) at Naas, he wouldn’t have won but I think he should have been a good second. He just didn’t get the run of the race. "He missed the fourth-last and third-last, got stuck in a bit of a pocket and just didn’t really get out, but he ran well and I was very happy with him. “Minella Crooner is a horse that doesn’t show anything at home but does his best work on the track so we’ll see how he gets on. "Fil Dor runs in the juvenile. He’s in good form, he’s done nothing wrong. He’s another horse that doesn’t do anything fancy at home. This will be his biggest ask. "Riviere D’etel was only a couple of lengths off Ferny Hollow the last day and has to have her chance in the Irish Arkle. "Delta Work (runs in the Irish Gold Cup) was a little disappointing at Christmas. He got jarred up at Leopardstown last year. It took us a long time to get him right and, even still, I’m not sure that he’s where I’d like him to be. But we’ve taken off all the headgear and put cheekpieces on him. Jack (Kennedy) schooled him the other morning and he jumped well so we’re looking forward to it. "Zanahiyr (Irish Champion Hurdle) is a horse who’s improving all the time, he’s getting stronger every day. Obviously Honeysuckle will be very, very hard to beat. She looks a penalty kick really. But our horse is in good form. He ran well at Leopardstown last time when only beaten a neck by Sharjah so if he improves just a little bit more he’ll be in the mix."
