• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Betting Offers UK

Best Free Bets & Casino Sign Up Offers For 2022

  • Betting Offers
  • Free Bets
  • Casino Bonuses
  • Home
  • New Sites
  • Free Spins
  • Free Bet Clubs
  • Bookies
  • Football
    • Premier League
  • Horse Racing
    • Cheltenham Festival
      • Disruptions & Cancellations
      • Old Course v New Course
      • Prestbury Cup
      • Top Trainers
      • Top Jockeys
      • Amateur Races
    • Grand National
      • Picking a Winner
      • Grand National Winners
      • Grand National Fences
      • Disruptions & Cancellations
      • Back to Back Winners
      • How Often Does the Favourite Win?
      • Prize Money
      • Virtual Grand National
      • Grand National Sponsors
      • Reserve Horses
      • How Many Finish
      • How Many Run
      • Grey Horses
      • Popularity
      • Amateur Jockeys
  • Irish Lottery
  • Blog

What Will Happen to Gordon Elliott’s Entries at the 2021 Cheltenham Festival?

2 March, 2021

Gordon Elliott with Don Cossack
Image Credit: Dan Heap, flickr

It was the photo that shocked the world, let alone the horse racing community.

Gordon Elliott, the multiple-time major winning trainer and Cheltenham Festival veteran, was photographed sitting astride the body of a dead horse, which had sadly passed away of a heart attack on the gallops. The Irishman is seen grinning at the camera.

For somebody who has spoken out about the welfare of horses within the sport, the picture is a hideous betrayal of those who are genuinely passionate about equine welfare, and leaves Elliott at best embarrassed and at worse hoping that his temporary ban from the sport isn’t increased to something longer lasting.

He has apologised profusely, as he would, but that along might not be enough to persuade the BHA not to punish him with the upmost severity.

In the short term, Elliott will not be allowed to train horses for the immediate future – and that leaves his entries for the Cheltenham Festival in limbo. Punters will be desperate to know what happens next.

Please note that on the 5th March 2021, Gordon Elliott was banned from training for 12 months, the second 6 months of which to be suspended. 

So What is the Lay of the Land for Elliott Right Now?

Man Examining Paperwork

As of March 2, Elliott is not allowed to saddle any runners in the UK – at the behest of the BHA – while Irish racing authorities conduct a full investigation into his conduct.

That inquiry conducted by the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board is likely to be swift, and it seems highly unlikely that the outcome will be good news for Elliott.

It seems almost a certainty that he will miss the Cheltenham Festival, and his attendance at the Grand National – where his lead charge Tiger Roll sadly won’t go for a historic hat-trick of wins – also seems to be in doubt.

The BHA have confirmed that Elliott will be banned from saddling runners on British soil until the IHRB investigation has been concluded.

“The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) will not allow the Irish trainer Gordon Elliott to race horses in Britain whilst the Irish authorities investigate an image that appeared on social media over the weekend,” their statement read.

What the future holds for the Gold Cup winning trainer remains to be seen. Gigginstown are thought to be standing by their man, with the O’Leary’s admonishing his actions but refusing to take any further action until the Irish investigation has been completed.

The Cheveley Park Stud, meanwhile, are also awaiting the IHRB’s findings.

“We are truly horrified and dismayed by the photograph doing the rounds on social media however, we will await the official outcome of the investigation by the IHRB, which we trust will be swift, before making any further comment/decisions,” was their release to the media.

One gig that Elliott has already lost is with Betfair, for whom the trainer acted as a brand ambassador. His popular blog has been discontinued, with Betfair confirming that they have ceased their partnership with Elliott with immediate affect.

Envoi Allen, Tiger Roll and Co: Will They Still Run at Cheltenham ?

Gordon Elliott Racing Horse Transporter at Cheltenham

With more than 100 entries at the Cheltenham Festival, the timing of Elliott’s misdemeanour coming to light could not be any worse.

His main superstars on the bill are Envoi Allen, the unbeaten seven-year-old who is the bookmakers’ favourite in the Marsh Novices’ Chase, and Aintree hero Tiger Roll, who will be looking for more Cheltenham Festival success too when he locks horns with Easysland once more in the Cross Country Chase.

Many of Gigginstown’s leading fancies are schooled by Elliott, and so there could be significant upheaval to follow. Abacadabras, a lively contender in the Champion Hurdle, and the Albert Bartlett market principle Torygraph are two of their primary runners, while Zanahiyr and Grand Roi – from the Morans – are amongst the favourites for the Triumph Hurdle and Coral Cup respectively.

Elliott is a prolific trainer for Cheveley Park as well, with Ballyadam (Supreme Novices’ Hurdle), Quilixios (Boodles Handicap Hurdle) and Sir Gerhard (Champion Bumper) all among the most likely to win in their respective outings. The Stud’s owners have confirmed that their Cheltenham charges will be split between the yards of Willie Mullins and Henry de Bromhead for the time being.

Cheveley Park Cheltenham Festival Trainer Changes

Horse Race New Trainer
Ballyadam Supreme & Ballymore Novices’ Hurdles Henry de Bromhead
Quilixios Boodles Hurdle & Triumph Hurdle Henry de Bromhead
Sir Gerhard Weatherbys Champion Bumper Willie Mullins
Envoi Allen Marsh Novices’ Chase Henry de Bromhead

But how will a switch in yard, be it temporary or more permanent, affect their chances?

Will Elliott’s Horses Switch Trainers?

Davy Russell and Don Cossack
Image Credit: Dan Heap, flickr

The good news for owners and connections is that they are allowed to transfer their entries to different trainers as they wish.

And so, in practice at least, there is no reason for any horses trained by Elliott to actually miss Cheltenham.

Gigginstown, for example, work with a number of trainers, with the likes of Henry de Bromhead, Noel Meade and JP O’Brien all on the books. It’s possible that they will simply take on training duties for the foreseeable future.

Cheveley Park can call on the likes of Willie Mullins, De Bromhead and Sir Michael Stoute too, and while all will miss Elliott’s undoubted Cheltenham pedigree the show must go on – this way, at least they are unlikely to have to miss out on the four-day extravaganza.

How Will the Bookies Pay Out On Elliott’s Horses?

Unibet Cheltenham Ante Post Betting Screenshot

It’s difficult to know what will happen to ante post bets should Elliott’s entries be prevented from running.

Ordinarily, ante post wagers are not covered should a horse not start in the selected race – unless you have taken Non Runner No Bet insurance or similar.

However, in such bizarre and distasteful circumstances as these, you would like to think that the bookies will refund bets placed in good faith as a gesture of goodwill.

There’s no real precedent for this situation, so it will be worth keeping your eyes peeled for updates over the next fortnight or so.

Previous Post: « Barcagate: Arrests, Resignations and Social Media Attacks at FC Barcelona
Next Post: Have We Seen the Last of Tiger Roll? Grand National Hero Could Be Set for Retirement »

Primary Sidebar

Blog

Number 50 Arrow Target
Do Teams with 50 Points at Halfway Always Go On to Win the Premier League?
Red Card Held Against Blue Stadium Seats
UEFA Change Financial Fair Play Rules to Close ‘Chelsea Loophole’ on Long Player Contracts
Rugby Player Being Tackled
What Is a High Tackle In Rugby and How are the Rules Changing?
Football with Blank White Cards
What Is a White Card In Football?
Football Manager Holding Up Tactics Board
Do Football Clubs Always Improve When Appointing a New Manager?
More Blog Posts | Full Archives

Archives

Betting Sign Up Offers

  • Free Bets
    • Bet £5 Get £20/£30+
    • Bet £10 Get £30/£40+
    • Casino Free Bets
  • Casino Bonuses
  • Free Spins

Loyalty Offers

  • Acca Bonuses
  • Acca Insurance
  • Best Odds Guaranteed
  • Free Bet Clubs
  • Loyalty Points

Major Events

  • Grand National
    • How to Pick the Grand National Winner
    • Grand National Winners
    • Grand National Fences
    • Prize Money
    • Disruptions & Cancellations
    • Back to Back Winners
    • How Often Does the Favourite Win?
    • What Is the Virtual Grand National?
    • Grand National Sponsors
    • Reserve Horses
    • How Many Horses Finish?
    • How Many Horses Run?
    • Most Successful Owners
    • Changes Over Time
    • Female Jockeys
    • Grey Horses in the Grand National
    • Amateur Jockeys
    • Popularity
  • Cheltenham Festival
    • Festival Disruptions & Cancellations
    • Old Course v New Course
    • The Prestbury Cup
    • Top Trainers
    • Top Jockeys
    • Amateur Races
  • Premier League
    • Without the Big Six?
  • Irish Lottery

Related Posts

  • Frankie Dettori: The Champion Jockey’s Greatest Successes and Biggest Controversies
  • Why Do Cheltenham’s Cross Country Chases Keep Getting Cancelled? Is the Festival Race In Danger?
  • Horse Racing Joins NFT Craze with OmniHorse: Will It Fall at the First Hurdle?
  • What are the Different Classifications In National Hunt Racing? Premier Handicaps Introduced for 2022/23
  • Breakspear at 1/16 Joins the Ranks of the Shortest Odds Losers In Betting History
  • How Does Hot Weather Affect Horse Racing?
  • How to Save British Flat Racing: More Prize Money, Bigger Fields, Fewer Fixtures
  • Which British Racecourses Offer the Highest Prize Money?
  • Could Jockeys Be Disqualified for Whip Over-Use in New Set of BHA Rules?
  • Frankie Dettori and John Gosden: The Best Wins of Their Hugely Successful Partnership

Betting Blog

  • American Football
  • Athletics
  • Betting Industry
  • Boxing
  • Cricket
  • Darts
  • Football
  • General
  • Golf
  • Horse Racing
  • Motor Racing
  • Politics
  • Rugby
  • Snooker
  • Tennis
betting-sites.co.uk
gambling-sites.co.uk

Copyright © 2023 Betting-Offers.com | BeGambleAware.org 18+