Gordon Elliott Secures Four Wins at Down Royal Festival Opener

On November 3, 2023, at Down Royal, trainer Gordon Elliott achieved a remarkable feat by securing four victories on the opening day of the festival meeting. This included the impressive chase debut of Romeo Coolio, a hurdler rated at 150, who showcased his potential with a dominant performance in the BetVictor Beginners Chase.

Although three fences in the straight were omitted from the race, Romeo Coolio delivered a powerful display, defeating Koktail Divin by an impressive 14 lengths. Winning jockey Jack Kennedy expressed his satisfaction, noting, “It was disappointing the three fences were omitted because he was really, really good at the fences we jumped. Long or short, he can do it all.” Elliott echoed this sentiment, stating, “I’m delighted with him – he couldn’t do any more. He got close to a few fences and popped. Jack was very happy with him. I’d say two and a half miles is his trip and he’ll go straight to the Group 1 Drinmore.”

Elliott’s Other Victories

Earlier in the day, Elliott made the strategic decision to withdraw Grade 1 winner The Yellow Clay from the listed Bottlegreen Hurdle. He instead secured victory with Casheldale Lad, a 1/4 shot who led throughout the race, finishing seven lengths ahead of Royal Hollow. This win marked the first of a double for Kennedy and the third victory of the day for Elliott. Following a previous triumph in a valuable handicap in Listowel, Casheldale Lad’s performance prompted Elliott to comment, “For a horse that used to be keen, Jack said he is so laid-back, that he was idling in front the whole way. We have lots of options for him, including the Greatwood in Cheltenham and the Morgiana.”

Elliott’s other wins included a 12/1 shot Creadan Grace, who triumphed in a tightly contested three-way finish in the 0-100 three-mile handicap hurdle. Additionally, point-to-point winner Skerry Hill justified his 4/7 favoritism in the bumper, leading throughout to defeat Hopeful Hero.

Notable Performances from Other Trainers

The day also saw Henry de Bromhead and jockey Darragh O’Keeffe achieve a notable double. Their success included the all-the-way victory of Full Of Life in the Grade 3 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Feathard Lady Mares Novice Hurdle. The 9/1 shot managed to hold off the favored Carrigmoornaspruce by one and a quarter lengths, with Korinthia finishing closely behind. O’Keeffe remarked, “She’s a great jumper and we decided to make it a test. It was a good call to bring her back over hurdles. She won well and could stay over hurdles for a while before she goes back chasing.”

The opening maiden hurdle provided some unexpected drama when the odds-on favorite Theflyingking fell at the final flight, causing a chain reaction that led to the fall of stable companion Kazansky. As a result, De Bromhead’s Some Song, who had previously won a point-to-point, capitalized on the situation to secure an unchallenged victory by 18 lengths over Juke Hill.

As the festival continues, Elliott’s strong start positions him as a significant contender, highlighting his training prowess and the potential of his rising stars. With upcoming races on the horizon, the performances witnessed at Down Royal may set the stage for an exciting season ahead.