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Five Gordon Elliott horses to follow at Cheltenham

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The battle for supremacy at the Cheltenham Festival is always an interesting one and the balance of power fluctuates significantly throughout the years.

Willie Mullins has been the main man for a while, but Gordon Elliott has been in sensational form and will be hoping to eclipse him this year.

With that in mind, we’ve selected five ante-post Cheltenham tips from the Gordon Elliott yard.

Supreme Novices’ Hurdle – El Cairos @ 5/1

El Cairos cost a whopping £410,000 at the sales and it’s fair to say that trainer and jockey have been impressed with what they have seen so far. 

Jack Kennedy says that the gelding is the fastest horse he has sat on during his time with Elliott, which is some statement! He looked like the winner when falling at the last in a maiden hurdle over Christmas and he looks set to get off the mark soon.

Currently second favourite for the Supreme at Cheltenham, he appears to have all the tools required to run a big race, if reaching his full potential. He stays well and clearly has the gears to match.

Turners Novices’ Hurdle – Skylight Hustle @ 12/1

Brian Acheson has been a big supporter of Elliott over the years and the pair have got a very smart prospect on their hands here.

Skylight Hustle absolutely bolted up in a maiden hurdle at Fairyhouse in November and the longer the race went on, the more dominant he became. 

He was perhaps a little fortunate to win a Grade 1 over two miles at Leopardstown after that as Talk The Talk looked like the winner before falling at the last. Nevertheless, he stayed on well and could improve significantly when going up in trip.

Mares’ Hurdle – Wodhooh @ 13/8

The potential absence of Lossiemouth leaves the door open for Wodhooh to take full advantage. Winning nine of her 10 starts under rules, the ultra-consistent daughter of Le Havre’s only defeat came at the hands of Mullins’ grey in the Aintree Hurdle.

Only Brighterdaysahead can offer a similar level of form, but she could go elsewhere and tends to underperform at Cheltenham. That can’t be said of Wodhooh though, as she won the Martin Pipe here last season and is more than capable of coming out on top.

Stayers’ Hurdle – Teahupoo @ 7/4

Previous Stayers’ Hurdle winner Teahupoo finished second behind Bob Olinger in this race last year, but, having run over Christmas this year, he should be much sharper and is well set to gain his revenge on Bob Olinger.

Elliott’s nine-year-old began the season with a narrow victory in the Hatton’s Grace Hurdle, his third success in the Grade 1 contest.

He went to Leopardstown for the Christmas Hurdle next time and went on to score by a comfortable margin.

Ryanair Chase – Romeo Coolio @ 20/1

This one is potentially a little speculative and somewhat optimistic, as Elliott doesn’t like running novices in open company, but Romeo Coolio is a very talented horse and is much better over 2m4f than he is over two miles these days.

The death of the 2m4f Grade 1 novice chase is a massive inconvenience for him, but the Ryanair looks unusually open this year.

If a novice is going to win it, it could be this year and Romeo Coolio is certainly good enough to make his presence felt.

 

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South Pembrokeshire Short Mat Bowls – Friendly League results week 21

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LAST week’s fixtures in the South Pembrokeshire Short Mat Bowls Association Friendly League produced a number of decisive results as teams continue to battle for position heading into the closing stages of the season.

Llanteg secured a narrow 6–4 victory over East Williamston, while St Johns delivered the standout performance of the week with a commanding 10–0 win against Hundleton.

Lamphey claimed an 8–2 result over St Twynnells, with Badgers matching that scoreline in their win against Cosheston. Reynalton also impressed, recording a dominant 10–0 victory over Kilgetty.

Carew had the bye.

League table after week 21:

East Williamston continue to lead the table, having played 19 matches, winning 13 and sitting on 126 points with a shot difference of +169.

St Johns remain close behind after 20 games, with 12 wins, one draw and seven losses, on 116 points and a shot difference of +132.

Reynalton sit third with eight wins and two draws from 19 matches, holding 99 points.

Carew are fourth on 98 points from 19 games, followed closely by Hundleton on 97 points after 19 matches, with ten wins and one draw.

Llanteg have played 18 matches and sit on 95 points, while St Twynnells, also on 18 games, have nine wins and two draws to reach 93 points.

Lamphey are on 80 points from 19 matches, with Badgers just behind on 79 points.

Cosheston have 74 points from 17 games, while Kilgetty currently sit bottom with 73 points from 19 matches.

 

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Sport

Deadline extended for Cardiff Rugby takeover talks

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THE DEADLINE for a proposed takeover of Cardiff Rugby has been pushed back, giving potential buyers more time to finalise a deal.

The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) has granted Ospreys owners Y11 Sport & Media a further 30 days to continue negotiations, with the new deadline now set for Wednesday (Apr 22).

The original exclusivity period for talks has now expired, but discussions between both parties remain ongoing after the WRU board previously selected Y11 as its preferred bidder in January.

The extension comes at a tense time for Welsh rugby governance. WRU chair Richard Collier-Keywood is due to face a vote of no confidence at an extraordinary general meeting later this month, following pressure from leading figures within Central Glamorgan Rugby Union.

Clubs are also expected to vote on proposed changes to how WRU board members are appointed, despite the current representatives having only recently been re-elected.

The unrest follows controversial plans by the WRU to reduce the number of professional teams in Wales from four to three by 2027 — a move that has sparked concern across the game.

In a statement, the WRU confirmed that negotiations with Y11 have been ongoing since the group was chosen as the preferred bidder, with both sides continuing to work towards agreeing terms for the takeover.

 

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Haverfordwest secure bonus-point win over title-chasing Tumble

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HAVERFORDWEST produced one of their standout performances of the season to claim a 34–22 bonus-point victory away to title-chasing Tumble on Saturday (Mar 21).

The Blues showed composure and attacking intent throughout, running in five tries against one of the division’s strongest sides to underline their credentials in the closing stages of the campaign.

Tumble, who began the day among the league leaders, were expected to provide a stern test on home soil, but Haverfordwest rose to the challenge with a clinical display in both attack and defence.

Iori Curtis was named man of the match following an influential performance, crossing for a try and playing a key role in the visitors’ attacking phases.

The try scorers for Haverfordwest were Karl Busch and Jack Evans, while Curtis added his name to the scoresheet. Scott Candler led the way with a brace, helping to secure the all-important bonus point.

Adam Phillips was reliable from the tee, converting three of the tries and adding a penalty to keep the scoreboard ticking over.

The result marks a significant win for the Blues, not only for the points gained but for the manner in which it was achieved against high-quality opposition.

Club officials also praised the travelling supporters and player sponsors for their continued backing, which they say remains vital to the team’s success.

 

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