Gerri Colombe Plans to Bypass Irish Gold Cup and Head Straight to Cheltenham – Racing Post

Gerri Colombe, a winner of three Grade 1 races last season and another at Down Royal in November, is considering competing in other major spring festivals to add to his successes. Having only been beaten twice, he is now a 10-1 shot and will likely skip Leopardstown and head straight to Cheltenham, with Aintree and Punchestown as potential future options.

His stablemate Conflated, the 7-2 favorite for the Cross Country Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, will represent Elliott in the Irish Gold Cup, a race he previously won two years ago. Meanwhile, Caldwell Potter, initially expected to compete in the Grade 1 Tattersalls Ireland Novice Hurdle, will miss the engagement as none of the Caldwell Construction-owned horses will take part before being sold.

Despite this, Elliott will still have a strong team, with two Grade 1 winners set to lead his squad.