Ryanair boss targets Triumph
by Conall Collier Updated: Wednesday, 6th January, 2010 4:54pm
Trim trainer Gordon Elliott.
Trainer Gordon Elliott can look forward to a couple of hectic weeks as he finalises his team for the Cheltenham Festival with Leopardstown winner Carlito Brigante heading the posse for the Triumph Hurdle.
Owned by Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary, Carlito Brigante, which only arrived at his new home with Elliott last month, slammed Alaivan in the juvenile hurdle at the Foxrock track at Christmas.
Carlito Brigante won at Musselburgh on his previous start, five days after a disappointing debut over hurdles at Navan, when trained by Clare MacMahon.
Prior to that he won a 45-75 handicap on the flat this year at Leopardstown when trained by David Wachman for owner Michael Tabor.
Sold for £17,000 he ended up with MacMahon and after his win in Scotland for Kilmessan jockey Jason Maguire, the horse was sold again and O'Leary's Gigginstown Stud paid £40,000 to get him.
They recouped over €30,000 of that outlay at Leopardstown and the Triumph Hurdle is now the target with a return to the Scottish track in early February the next assignment, if the going suits.
"He came out of the Leopardstown race very well, he has to have good ground, hopefully we will get that," stated the trainer.
Drumree jockey Barry Geraghty was in fine form at Cheltenham on Friday where he recorded a treble for trainer Nicky Henderson with Radium, Tetlami and Sentry Duty.
Geraghty could have had a fourth winner, but the trainer took Punchestowns out of the novice chase after the freezing temperatures caused officials to inspect the track on three occasions.
Racing finally went ahead following the third inspection and a delay to racing as a delegation of officials, jockeys and trainers walked the track after the opening event.
However, Geraghty was in top form and his win on Sentry Duty could see the eight-year-old heading for the World Hurdle.
Geraghty gave Tetlami a confident ride to land the 'bumper' and his other winner, Radium, had it easy in a novice handicap hurdle.
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