Elliott may use claiming riders for leading National runners Gordon Elliott is toying with the idea of using claiming riders on two of his leading Irish Grand National hopefuls on Easter Monday, with the trainer expecting to be represented by six runners in the Boyle Sports-sponsored €500,000 race. Elliott, successful once previously in the 2018 renewal with Gigginstown House Stud’s General Principle, is guaranteed a run with six of his horses but is unlikely to add to that total as three others are likely to be balloted out, with declarations to be made tomorrow. Elliott leads Willie Mullins by approximately €360,000 in the trainers’ championship, but needs a big result on Monday to have any chance of winning the title for the first time. "My top three in the weights (Better Days Ahead, Search For Glory and Shecouldbeanything) are my best chances," he reported, “Better Days Ahead is the horse we've mapped out for the race all year, but it is very hard to win with all the weight (11st12lb) he has, so I'm toying with claiming off both him and Search For Glory (11st 5lbs). Generally, it is hard to win with big weights in the race though. "At the moment all six of mine run provided everything goes well between now and the race. The ground won't bother mine except for Duffle Coat who, if it became very soft, I mightn't run. The problem is we'll have to declare them and see how much rain falls. Prends Garde A Toi is number 3 on the ballot, but I think headway he will struggle to get in."
