On the back of seeing Brighterdaysahead claim the Irish Champion Hurdle on Sunday, Gordon Elliott is gunning for Goffs Irish Arkle glory with Romeo Coolio.
The exciting seven-year-old faces a real threat in the form of Kargese, another smart mare from the Willie Mullins yard, but Elliott came out in top in a clash between the two powerhouse yards on Sunday and is hoping to repeat the feat on Monday’s rescheduled card.
In the absence of the Mullins-trained Kopek Des Bordes, Romeo Coolio is an odds-on favourite, but in Kargese he faces a more than worthy adversary.
Elliott said: “The race has cut up, but Kargese is a good mare and was rated higher than us over hurdles. We’ll see what happens and testing ground will help our horse.
“It’s no walkover, Willie’s mare was rated higher over hurdles and is getting weight off him. Christmas went that well for us I’m just hoping things go right.”
Elliott also holds strong claims in the Gannon’s City Recovery And Recycling Services Juvenile Hurdle, where the unbeaten Mange Tout has the chance to confirm form over likely favourite Narciso Has, who impressed in the Irish capital on St Stephen’s Day.
“She’s done nothing wrong so far and she won at Down Royal the first day despite being too free,” explained Robbie Power, racing manager for Mange Tout’s owners Robcour.
“She had won in France in a hood and we put that back on for Fairyhouse and she was much more professional there and jumped really quick.
“This is a very competitive juvenile and I imagine whatever wins it will be favourite for the Triumph after, but she’s in good form.”
Elliott and Robcour are well represented in the opening Nathaniel Lacy And Partners Solicitors Novice Hurdle by Punchestown and Clonmel winner Santo Sospir, with Elliott fielding four of the nine-strong field and in opposition to Mullins’ likely favourite Doctor Steinberg.
Power added: “The trip and ground will suit Santo Sospir and he loved the heavy ground at Clonmel so you would think it would suit him at Leopardstown as well.
“He’s still a big baby who will progress as he gains experience and it’s a big step up in class for him so it’ll be interesting to see how he gets on.”
Also in the race is Declan Queally’s hat-trick-seeking Tackletommywoowoo, who will bid to quickly double his stable’s top-level haul after I’ll Sort That’s momentous victory at Naas earlier this month.
Queally said: “We’re looking forward to it and the small syndicate are really excited.
“We decided to give him a freshen up since his last race at Cork because he has been in all summer. He’s had six weeks off and is back now in good form and I’m happy with him. He did a nice piece of work with I’ll Sort That the other morning and he’s a lovely horse.
“It’s a big ask, but for the syndicate in question it’s a dream come true and he’s at least proven at the trip.
“If he could be placed it would be a dream come true and anything better would just be an even more amazing scenario.”