Gordon Elliot

[Bar the Bull]

Gordon Elliot is gradually establishing himself in the very highest rank of NH trainers. I think his progress is possibly the most notable achievement by man or beast in the Irish racing season.

In the past month he has had:

2 Aintree winners (Russian War and the bumper winner)
2 Cheltenham winners (Carlito Brigante and Chicago Grey)

He has continued knocking in winners at places like Gowran and Tramore as he has managed this.

Overall this seaon, he is 4th in the Irish trainers’ championship, with decent wins with Dirar, Tharawaat, Hoopy, Toner d’Oudiares, Roi du Mee and Jessie’s Dream.

Progress in the last four seasons:

2010-11 4th (3k off third place)
2009-10 14th
2008-09 25th
2007-08 44th

[Bar the Bull]

He is also 15th in the British trainers' championship.

[PRICEWISE2008]

Anybody else hear his "choice" language when celebrating with Jason Maguire (best pals apparently) immediately after the National?? 2 match ban I say

[Gearoid]

He does not get the respect he deserves my the handicapper or bookmakers alike.

[neo05]

He does not get the respect he deserves my the handicapper or bookmakers alike.

Thank god

[granger]

I know people who know him well and he is supposedly a very nice man too.

[LUKE]

He seems to be sound-how long before he trains a Group winner on the flat.

[On The Bridle]

He seems to be sound-how long before he trains a Group winner on the flat.

Very few runners or winners last year Luke - maybe sometime yet.

[Gearoid]

No chance of a group winner on the flat. He enjoys a beer and has a big entourage. Not a very traditional trainer to say the least!

[Sheikh]

I can think of a few flat trainers who enjoy a Beer but I think perhaps he would have been better suited to the Celtic Tiger owners with the 'big entourage' as regards getting a few good flat horses in.

[Grasshopper]

He does not get the respect he deserves my the handicapper or bookmakers alike.

He does when he brings them over to Perth, Kelso or Musselburgh.

[Diamond Geezer]

Visited his stables two or three years ago and was amazed he produced any winners as it was a bit of a mud heap and facilities weren't that good although to be fair he was having new gallops installed at that time so maybe success has helped pay for more improvements. Gordon and his partner Annie were brilliant towards us though and I imagine all his owners share brilliant craic with them win or lose.

[Ardross]

No chance of a group winner on the flat. He enjoys a beer and has a big entourage. Not a very traditional trainer to say the least!

Dirar could win a Group 3 surely

[LUKE]

If he can win an Ebor he can win a Group race.

[On The Bridle]

If he can win an Ebor he can win a Group race.

With what horse? Can't see Dirar going for anything only the Galway Hurdle this year. Not aware of too many other bullets he has for the flat.

[Cantoris]

Of course it all depends on how you view success for a trainer.

Take Colm this season, one Grade 1 and five Grade 2 wins plus three grade one placings with three different horses. He took Aladdins Cave off Gordon Elliott and he won five races, starting on 61 and ending with a win off 89. But he goes about things quietly, and successfully.

Gordon has made his reputation by winning handicaps until Jessies Dream did the trick at Fairyhouse (I admit Silver Birch won a bit more than just a handicap, as did Carlito Brigante but you know what I mean). He will get better horses as a result so it will be interesting to see how he does with them. I think he will do well, partially because of his ability to train but also his outlook on life. Owners like him as he'll go for a few beers with them. His exploits in Perth are legendary.

[Bar the Bull]

Of course it all depends on how you view success for a trainer.

Graded wins
Prize money
Top handicaps

[Aragorn]

Strike rate as well surely?

[Cantoris]

Graded wins
Prize money
Top handicaps

So just for the craic, how would you compare Colm, Elliott and Mullins on that basis, taking into account that Mullins is nearly 50% more expensive than the other two, a point which should not be forgotten.

[On The Bridle]

3 flat wins last year wouldn't set the pulse racing from 55 runners. He has made his reputation through his exploits at places like Perth. As someone looking in from the outside I have always thought that this was a massively big PR move for him personally and maybe not such a fantastic thing for his owners! They could never make it pay by doing what they were doing fot that level of prizemoney. Why did he not set up a satelite yard in the UK if these were his targets?? I always thought Colm started with Aladins Cave and am surprised that he came from Elliotts. Mr Murphy improved him a little you would have to say His fiancé does a piece in the Irish Field about the goings on in the yard- suffice it to say they enjoy themselves.