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Gordon Elliott | "I want winners every day of the week"

Gordon Elliott joined Friday Night Racing on Off The Ball in association with Horse Racing Irelan...



Gordon Elliott |
Racing

Gordon Elliott | "I want winners every day of the week"

Gordon Elliott joined Friday Night Racing on Off The Ball in association with Horse Racing Ireland where he looked ahead to the National Hunt season.

Elliott has come very close to Willie Mullins in the Champion Trainer title race in the past and his ambition to catch him remains the same.

"I'm hungry, I want winners every day of the week, and if you don't want winners and don't want to be champion you shouldn't be doing it.

"That's one thing in life I always said I want to do. I'm probably unfortunate to be alive at the same time as Willie Mullins because he's probably the greatest trainer we've ever seen or will ever see.

"I think I've been second eight times to Willie so hopefully it might happen someday. If I keep doing what I'm doing and keep trying to improve it might happen.

"Maybe the way we've been driving it makes Willie even better. it's great to be even talked about in the same sentence as Willie Mullins, but hopefully we can catch him someday, please God.

Gigginstown decision

The downsizing of Michael O'Leary's Gigginstown House Stud operation was forecast to hurt Gordon Elliott's success but that has not materialised, the trainer is grateful to them.

"Gigginstown were massive for me getting going, they gave me a leg up when I wasn't really that well known. They invested a lot of money into the yard sending us a lot of good horses and we haven't looked back," Elliott said.

"It's a year and a half since Michael decided he is going to slow down on the game. At the time it was a big shock. I thought 'Oh my god, what's going to happen?'

"We have not looked back, we have a lot more owners investing in the place and I'd say owners are investing in a bigger way because they know Gigginstown are slowing down.

"I hope Michael has horses in the yard in ten years' time but at the moment it looks like he's slowing down.

Gordon Elliott Opportunities

As was the case when Gigginstown left Willie Mullins, the vacancy has created an opportunity for others to become involved at Gordon Elliott's Cullentra House Stables where Presenting Percy is one of several new recruits.

"The one horse I'm looking forward to this year is Presenting Percy, he only has to improve a half a stone to be in the mix in all the big races.

"Maybe coming got my yard will bring him on that half stone, or it could put him back because Pat Kelly did a wonderful job with the horse.

"I'm really looking forward to him, he'll start off in Down Royal and could end up in the Grand National down the line."

Catch up with Gordon Elliott's Stable Tour this week.

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Cheltenham Festival Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott Michael O'Leary Presenting Percy Samcro