Elliott keen to see Don Poli back to his best

GORDON ELLIOTT is looking forward to seeing the long-absent Don Poli tackle the Grand National fences in today’s Randox Health Becher Chase. The Gigginstown House Stud-owned nine-year-old struck three times at Grade One level when trained by Willie Mullins, including the RSA Chase at the 2015 Cheltenham Festival. He joined Gordon Elliott two seasons ago — and while he failed to fire on his first start for his new trainer at Down Royal, he bounced back to finish second in the Christmas Chase and third in the Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown. Elliott said: ‘Don Poli and Noble Endeavor both schooled over National fences at the Curragh the other day and went very well. ‘Don Poli is a class horse, but he might need the run. He got a bit of heat in his leg before the Gold Cup a few years ago, and we had to leave him off. ‘Noble Endeavor is a very good horse. He’s a bit in between with the rating he has, and the Grand National could suit him.’