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Irish Mirror
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Robert Hynes

Cheltenham Festival 2023 tips: The 1,227/1 Gordon Elliott accumulator that could make your week

Gordon Elliott heads to the 2023 Cheltenham Festival expecting to add to his 34 winners to date at the famous meeting.

In fact, the Meath trainer has admitted he would be disappointed if he didn't manage to get a winner on the board over the course of the four days.

As he has for a number of years now, except 2021 when he was banned from training for a time, Elliott will send a team to the Cotswolds that will be the envy of many other trainers both in Ireland and the UK.

Although Mighty Potter is fancied by many, we've opted for four other Elliott-trained horses that we can see running big races:

Delta Work - Cross Country 11/10

The horse that will be forever known as the one who defeated Tiger Roll in the two-time Grand National winner's last ever race, Delta Work looks set to go off the odds-on favourite in the Cross Country on Wednesday.

He finished third in a Cross Country at Cheltenham on Trials Day when giving plenty of weight away to his rivals and was well behind Blazing Khal when sixth in the Boyne Hurdle last month.

But this race has been his main aim for the season and he is one of the Irish bankers of the week.

The Bosses Oscar - Pertemps 8/1

The Bosses Oscar (©INPHO/Ryan Byrne)

Second in the Pertemps final two years ago, The Bosses Oscar has a lower weight this time around and looks an each-way player at the very least.

He finished third in a qualifier for the race last month at Musselburgh and this is another horse whose big aim for the season looks to be the race they are running in at Cheltenham.

Owners Noel and Valerie Moran are still searching for their first Festival winner and The Bosses Oscar could provide it on Thursday.

Teahupoo - Stayers' Hurdle 4/1

Teahupoo (©INPHO/Morgan Treacy)

Described by Elliott as one of his best chances of the week during a recent stable tour, Teahupoo impressed when winning the Galmoy Hurdle at Gowran Park when last seen in action at the end of January.

Many believe the six-year-old needs soft ground to be seen at his best, but his trainer disagrees and just thinks the Champion Hurdle was too short a trip for him 12 months ago.

Elliott said: "Everyone is saying that better ground would be a negative for him, but I’m not worried about it.

"Last year at Cheltenham the trip was just too short for him in the Champion Hurdle.

"I think the Stayers’ Hurdle will suit him well and he’s one of my best chances of the week."

The Stayers' looks very competitive this year, especially if Blazing Khal, Maries Rock, Home By The Lee and Flooring Porter all turn up, but Teahupoo might just get the better of them all.

Conflated - Gold Cup 12/1

Conflated (Jack Kennedy) jumps the last on the way to victory in the Savills Chase at Leopardstown (Getty Images)

Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary has seen his Gigginstown House Stud colours carried to victory twice in the Gold Cup, but he would love to win it for a third time.

War of Attrition and Don Cossack both carried the maroon and white silks to success in the Blue Riband race in 2006 and 2016 respectively and Conflated looks set to be O'Leary's sole representative in the race this year.

The son of Yeats won the Savills Chase, beating Kemboy by five lengths, back in December and Elliott has kept this nine-year-old fresh for Cheltenham by opting not to run him in the Irish Gold Cup at the Dublin Racing Festival.

At double figure odds, he could run very well as he was doing before falling in the Ryanair last year.

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