It's been almost 20 months since my last Gordon Elliott Racing Club Stable Tour and like with any sports team, a lot can happen in that time. The last time I was at Cullentra for a club tour it was all about Samcro. The new Faugheen had won every race he went in until a fall at the Punchestown Festival 2018 with the Champion Trainers race going to the wire. The Cullentra Stables star is always in the first box on the left as you come into the yard. This is where Samcro was. Now it belongs to Tiger Roll, the only horse since Red Rum to win back to back Aintree Grand Nationals. He goes for the treble next year. I've
written previously about last time not even seeing his stable never mind getting a picture. Two of the next batch of star horses that I didn't see this time are Envoi Allen and Malone Road. This might bode well for them. Club Members were queuing up to get a picture with The Tiger, to pat him on the nose and spend a few minutes in the company of a rock star. He even looks like a Beatle with his mop top hair do. There are another 3 boxes on this row which housed Duca De Thaix, who won a couple of races at Fairyhouse last winter. Beside him is my new favourite horse Battleoverdoyen who just seems like an absolute character. He was stood there nodding his head and sticking his tongue out. He went to this years Cheltenham Festival trying to emulate his stable mate Samcro by winning the Ballymore but he never featured and was pulled up before the last. I've read since that he didn't settle after the trip over the Irish Sea. Hopefully he will go again this year and show everyone what he is all about. He's a handsome looking horse who went on to win on his chase debut the day after at Galway. The final horse on the block is The Dark Destroyer - Delta Work. I doubt I've seen a blacker horse. A really stunning looking animal. With the autumnal sun beating down on the front of the boxes you couldn't be sure if there was a horse in the picture or a shadow. Samcro is still about of course and hoping to find the form that made him the most talked about horse at Cheltenham 2018. He's in a row of 3 new boxes down the yard towards the gallops. What is unique about these boxes is that they have no backs on them so the horses can go out and in as they please. "He's out in the fresh air the whole time. You just have to tweak things to get them into good form. We think we have him in good form now and we're looking forward to getting him out there" Gordon told us. We won't have long to wait for the return of Samcro as he's entered in a 2m 3f at Down Royal this Saturday in his first run over fences. "He had a wind operation. I couldn't get him to scope right at all last year but he's scoping well now" the Trainer added.
Down at the gallops we got to see our horses Bean Chlonard, Clonard Abbey and Fine Fettle along with a new horse, Sister Eliza, sister of Smiling Eliza. Herself and Tapenade are still out in the field. There was no mention of what the plan will be for those two over the winter. There are at least two gallops at Cullentra. Today they were on the flat circuit. Previously we'd seen the horses go on the longer one which culminates with a steady climb up to a look out area where spectators can watch them coming all the way up. Photographer David Betts informed me that the horses usually do lighter work at weekends. Twenty or so horses went off in ones and twos but all eyes were on the last horse to go off - Tiger Roll. I'm sure people would pay huge amounts of money for the privilege of seeing this horse doing his daily work. Moments like this are probably the greatest benefit of being in the Gordon Elliott Racing Club. We also got to see a couple of the horses close up jumping fences and then it was up to the warm down area where our horses and work riders paraded round while we listened to Gordons plans for the club in the coming months. "We need to get 6 or 7 horses in, some that will go on soft ground and can run every 3 or 4 weeks. The next month will be quiet though". He gave us a couple of horses he thought would run well in Galway - Thatsy and Don Diablo - both came second. "Samcro goes to Down Royal. Delta Work and Apples Jade will go back to Navan". And a horse that's under the radar to follow for the year? "Hamundarson - the bumper horse, goes at Down Royal next week". I had to wait until Down Royal entries to decipher what Gordon had actually said!
After that we were free to wander around the stables. I had a few questions I wanted to ask Gordon about our horses. I'd emailed Alex to ask if I could have an interview for the blog but didn't get a reply. Gordon was there to be asked but he was in a rush and I didn't want to bother him so I put the questions to some of the other stable staff at different parts of the morning. Gordon's Assistant Busty is always around and willing to answer whatever questions you ask. I wanted to know what they saw in a flat horse that made them think they could go over hurdles. We were speaking about what the future might hold for Sister Eliza. She's only 2 year old so can't race over hurdles until she is 3. "She's big enough to go over hurdles" said Busty. Size seems to be the biggest factor in making the decision to try a horse over fences. I also asked about Smiling Eliza and if he thought she would go chasing again after her fall at Galway ("She probably will") and then reverting back to hurdles at Ballinrobe not long after ("Horses fall all the time. If they're alright after the fall they can go out again soon after"). Then we started talking about the American Grand National and poor Wicklow Brave. I haven't watched the race because I don't want to see the end of a horse who provided one of my highlights of
Cheltenham. The Storyteller also fell at the same fence as Wicklow Brave but he was luckier. Busty had flown over with the Gordon Elliott horses for the meeting. "We went over on a Cargo Plane. The horses are down below in the cargo hold. They could have a car beside them". I have to admit the first thing I thought was did the horses on trans-Atlantic flights have to wear compression stockings to stop them getting blood clots. "What? No they fucking don't and I don't wear them either" was the reply.
Earlier I came across General Principle, 2018 Irish Grand National winner, in his box. He was standing well back from the door not wanting to be bothered. One of the Stable Girls offered to take him out for a photo "He's like a grumpy old man this one" she said. I asked her can anything be done to change the personality of a horse - I was thinking about Tapenade who is a lovely, big horse when you meet him but he hasn't done anything on the racecourse so is he maybe too nice? "You could maybe work them a bit harder and see but there's no guarantee they won't just down tools" she replied. They either have it or they don't and grumpy General Principle has an Irish National to his name.
Later on, I came across Apples Jade in her box and none other than Lisa O'Neill came along to get her ready to go out with the next lot. It took a couple of minutes for Lisa to get the saddle on her and then there was a comical moment when I thought Lisa was trying to drag the horse out of her box by the ankle but when she put that leg down and did the same with the other, I realised it was just to stretch. When you see Apples Jade up close, you can see what all the fuss is about. She is sleek yet muscular and very, very big. Gorgeous girl. There's a video of this below.
After watching another lot come back home and hosed, I went over to say goodbye to Delta Work, Battleoverdoyen and Duca Du Thaix. John Lennon wasn't back in his box yet so I went over to the walkers to see if I could see him. I was about to get in the car and head back up the country when I saw Tiger being led back to his box and I went over to spend another few minutes with him. Another great day with the Gordon Elliott Racing Club. I got to see some of the club members I'd met before and some I hadn't like Racing Club Manager, Dean Walker, club member and friend of this blog Fergal Whyte. Most of those in attendance went on to Leopardstown after. I've had my fill of the flat this year. While the jumps season started proper in England last week at Cheltenham, this side of the Irish Sea it starts at Down Royal on the first weekend of November. Hopefully the Gordon Elliott horses involved can get the season off to a flyer.
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