GORDON ON A ROLL

IF Gordon Elliott saddles only one winner at the Cheltenham Festival next month, he hopes it will be Tiger Roll in the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase.

Elliott, expected to send more than 80 runners from his stables in County Meath for the Festival, said: “He’s one horse I’m most looking forward to running there.”

If Tiger Roll succeeds, he will become only the third horse to win five or more races at the Festival – a feat achieved by Golden Miller winning five Gold Cups and Quevega bagging a record six Festival victories.

Tiger Roll has ready achieved iconic status and his profile will be enhanced further if he can become the first horse to make it three successive Grand National victories in April.

Elliott also makes a convincing case for a second victory in the Magners Cheltenham Gold Cup with Delta Work.

“I think he’s made for the race,” said

Elliott, successful in the 2016 contest with Don Cossack. His style of racing will suit the trip. We would not mind soft ground, the better for him, you know.

“The biggest danger is probably what Willie Mullins runs, while you would have to respect Santini as well and, if the ground came up bottomless, you could not rule out Native River.”

Elliott also has a host outstanding novice hurdlers that include Abacadabras and Envoi Allen, winner of last year’s bumper.

“If it came up very soft, I would not rule out Envoi Allen dropping back for the Supreme Hurdle,” said Elliott. “But at the moment, he is going for the Ballymore.”

Abacadabras is Elliott’s principal hope for the Supreme Hurdle.

He said: “He’s not run since Christmas because he has already had four runs over hurdles and I thought another run may knock the edge off him. He’s a speed horse and the one worry is if it came up very soft.”