If Mullins is the buttoned-up professor with the giant lab, Gordon Elliott is the street-smart operator with a deep squad and a plan for every weekend.
This article is your guide to the horses to follow Gordon Elliott 2025 2026: eight Elliott runners to watch that can shape the jumps season. Different styles, same result—winners when it matters.
Elliott’s calling card isn’t just the headline acts—it’s the sheer depth that lets him attack Ireland’s winter rhythm. Leopardstown at Christmas, then the Dublin Racing Festival, and still arrive loaded for March and April.
And yes, this is the guy who trained Grand National heroes like Silver Birch and the modern legend Tiger Roll. When he talks about “finding the right race,” he tends to mean it.
What you can expect from this list is simple: eight Elliott stars chosen as the horses to follow Gordon Elliott 2025 2026—the ones most likely to shape the season. It’s part of our wider Horses to follow 2025/26 jumps season series, where we track the names you’ll want in your notebook from autumn to spring.
Some are already household names; others are the types that look “useful” in January and suddenly feel unstoppable in spring. We’ll keep it practical—where they’re best, what trips suit, and which checkpoints to circle in your diary. No fluff, no mystique: just the stuff that helps you follow them with confidence.
Grab a pint, keep this page handy, and by March your notebook should look suspiciously like a set of good decisions. If not… well, at least the pint was cold. And if you want the bigger picture of how Elliott stacks up against his rivals, don’t miss our Top trainers National Hunt 2025/2026 breakdown.
We’ll keep this guide updated as Gordon Elliott’s horses run throughout the 2025/26 jumps season — check back each week for race results, performances and fresh analysis from Cullentra House.
Horses to follow Gordon Elliott 2025 2026: our top picks
Here’s the eight horses we believe define Gordon Elliott’s 2025/26 jumps season.
The headline act: Teahupoo (staying hurdler)
Career highlights
Teahupoo is your north star in the staying hurdles division. He won the Stayers’ Hurdle at Cheltenham in 2024, then came back last season to confirm that three miles and spring targets are his wheelhouse. Before that, he rattled off back-to-back Hatton’s Grace Hurdles (full race record here)—not just a flex, but the rhythm of an elite stayer who knows how to turn up for big days.
What to watch: his usual season arc. A late-autumn marker in Ireland tells you plenty, but March is the date circled in red. If he gets his preferred setup (an even pace and jumping in a rhythm), he’s the hurdler others have to get past at 3m. He’s not flashy—he’s efficient. That wins Grade 1s.
What to watch this season
What makes him fascinating isn’t just the wins, but the way he wins. He travels like a horse who could get caught flat-footed.
And then—bang—he finds extra gears when the pressure rises. That late kick has undone plenty of rivals who thought they had him beaten turning in.
It’s the same quality that once made Inglis Drever and Big Buck’s so deadly in this division: stamina plus the ability to quicken when others are empty.
On top of that, another angle to note is ground. While he has that soft-ground reputation—his Hatton’s Grace wins both came with cut—he’s proven adaptable enough on better going. That versatility is gold dust for a stayer, because you don’t get to choose Cheltenham’s weather. If he’s lining up in March fit and well, it’s hard to picture the Stayers’ Hurdle market without him at the sharp end.
The flagship mare: Brighterdaysahead (2m–2m4f hurdler… with options)
Career highlights
Few horses feel more “season-defining” for Gordon Elliott stable than Brighterdaysahead, one of his real stable stars. She’s the type who forces planning conversations. Do you stay in mares’ company because that looks like a gimme? Or do you shoot for the big one?
Last spring, connections actually opted for the Champion Hurdle route instead of taking the softer path. That says everything about how highly she’s regarded.
You’ll get clues early: if they pitch her at a Grade 1 in open company around Christmas or let her boss a mares’ race and build, we’ll know which door they’re choosing. The bottom line is she’s a genuine championship horse—strong at two miles, but with the cruising speed to stretch a bit further when required.
What to watch this season
She’s also a brilliant example of how Elliott likes to test his top mares against the very best. Connections could easily have taken the softer route by sticking to mares’ races.
But the fact they aimed her at open Grade 1 company last season speaks volumes. It’s not a move you make unless you believe she belongs in the conversation with horses like State Man and Lossiemouth.
Another little note: her racing style is almost too smooth. She jumps without fuss, travels kindly, and only shows her hand when asked. That means she can sometimes look like she’s “idling” in front, but don’t let that fool you—it’s efficiency, not laziness. If she stays hurdling, the Champion Hurdle remains an option; if she switches to fences, she’s the kind of mare who could make that transition look easy. Either way, she’s the horse punters and pundits will circle when they talk about Elliott’s Festival firepower.
The big engine: Gerri Colombe (staying chaser)
Career highlights
The staying chase division is a brutal neighborhood. Gerri Colombe is one of the few that can look Galopin des Champs in the eye on his day.
He was Gold Cup runner-up in 2024 and then showed his substance at Aintree by taking the Bowl that April.
He missed the back half of last season with a setback, but the form book doesn’t forget: this is a bona fide top-level staying chaser when healthy.
For 2025/26 Irish National Hunt Season, it’s simple: if he’s back to 95–100%, he’s in the thin tier of horses with a legitimate say in the biggest staying chases of the spring. Keep an eye on his reappearance run—he tends to come forward for it.
It’s easy to forget just how good he was as a novice. He rattled off seven straight wins, including the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham, before that first defeat in the Gold Cup. And even then, he only lost to Galopin Des Champs—hardly a crime. His style is all about rhythm: he jumps big, he gallops relentlessly, and he makes the others do the chasing.
What to watch this season
Ground is another factor worth highlighting. He’s at his most dangerous when there’s a bit of ease underfoot, which brings his stamina into play. On quicker going he can still run his race, but in the mud he turns into a grinder who just won’t stop. If he comes back firing this autumn, the staying chase division suddenly looks a lot more competitive—and you’d be daft not to pencil him in for the Gold Cup shortlist.
Update – November 3, 2025
Gerri Colombe made a slightly underwhelming start to his 2025/26 campaign, finishing third in the Grade 1 chase at Down Royal over 3 miles. Sent off a strong 8/11 favourite with an official rating of 170, he was handed an RPR of 153 after being beaten by Envoi Allen and Hewick. He led for much of the race but lost second place three out and couldn’t find extra in the closing stages. Plenty to work on next time.
The livewire: Found A Fifty (2m chaser)
Career highlights
If you like your two-milers tough and street-smart, Found A Fifty is your guy. He bagged the Maghull Novices’ Chase at Aintree in 2024 in a finish that took guts, then followed up the following November by winning the Fortria Chase at Navan. He doesn’t need the race to fall apart; he can force it to his liking.
He’s the sort who will make the Champion Chase conversation interesting if he strings two or three together. The backup plan at 2m4f is very real—he’s got the scope—but the killer instinct at two miles is what makes him dangerous.
What to watch this season
What sets him apart is that he doesn’t just win on talent—he wins by being streetwise. He likes to go forward, eyeball his rivals, and scrap it out. That makes him dangerous in small fields where tactics matter, but equally valuable in big, rough-run races where others shy away from the fight. Remember his Maghull win at Aintree? He looked headed after the last, but he found again when it mattered. That grit is pure Elliott.
There’s also a sense that he’s still learning how good he might be. At two miles, he has the gears to travel easily. At two and a half, he has the size and stamina to stretch out.
If the Champion Chase picture looks crowded, the Ryanair could be a tempting alternative. Either way, you’ll want him on your radar. Horses with this blend of toughness and talent tend to keep showing up when the prizes get bigger.
Update – November 1, 2025
Found A Fifty made a flat start to his 2025/26 jumps campaign at Down Royal, finishing fourth of five in a 3m Class 1 event. Sent off favourite at 2/1 with an OR of 165, he travelled close to the pace for much of the race but failed to pick up when the pressure came on in the straight. The race went to fellow market leader Envoi Allen, and while this run was below expectations, he should come on for the outing if all is well at home.
The fence-lover: Firefox (2m–2m4f chaser)
Career highlights
Firefox is a great example of a horse improving when he met a fence. The hints were there long before—he famously beat Ballyburn over hurdles at Fairyhouse in late 2023—then he made a sharp chase debut at Down Royal and advertised himself as proper Grade-1 material. The short-to-intermediate trips suit him.
If the campaign stays clean, he’s exactly the type to show up at the Dublin Racing Festival and Punchestown with winning chances. You won’t need binoculars to spot the class: smooth jumping, honest pace, and a finish that bites.
The Ballyburn angle also makes him fascinating. How many horses can say they’ve beaten last season’s Supreme hero?
Firefox did it at Fairyhouse back in 2023, and while plenty has happened since, that single line of form looks stronger every month.
It proved he had the raw class to live with the very best. His early chase runs have only underlined that impression.
What to watch this season
What you’ll notice with him is how slick he can be at a fence. Some hurdlers take time to adjust, but Firefox looked like a natural from the first day. He has the scope to attack his obstacles, the balance to recover when he gets in tight, and the temperament to settle into a rhythm. That’s a rare combination, and it’s why he could easily develop into one of Elliott’s go-to Festival horses. Pencil him in for the Dublin Racing Festival as a real checkpoint—if he’s flying there, you know he’s ready for the spring.
Update – November 1, 2025
Unlike Found A Fifty, Firefox justified favouritism on his seasonal return at Down Royal, winning smartly in a 2m3f contest featuring five runners. Sent off at 8/11 with an OR of 151, he travelled comfortably in third for most of the race before moving into second two out. From there, he quickened clear in the closing stages and looked every inch the class act—authoritative, composed, and clearly ready for bigger assignments ahead.
The spring closer: Wodhooh (handicap hurdler who punches up)
Career highlights
Every good yard has a horse that keeps cashing tickets while the headlines swirl elsewhere. For Elliott last spring, that was Wodhooh, who landed the Martin Pipe at Cheltenham on the final day. It was emotional—Elliott had been knocking on the door all week—and it was deserved. She’s genuine, she travels, and she finishes.
What’s her lane this season? Think high-end handicaps through the winter with the option to climb a rung if her mark allows. She’s the sort you follow by form: once she clicks into a groove, she tends to hold it.
What to watch this season
One of the fun parts of following her is that she doesn’t win with fireworks—she wins by doing everything right. She settles, she jumps clean, and she finds more when asked. That kind of reliability is priceless in big handicaps, where half the field can ruin their chances by pulling too hard or missing a hurdle. With Wodhooh, you feel like you’re getting a professional effort every time.
Another thing to note is how she thrives in the spring. Some horses tail off after Christmas; she does the opposite.
Her Cheltenham success in the Martin Pipe wasn’t a fluke. The fact she backed it up at Punchestown told you she carries her form forward.
For punters, that’s the dream combination: a mare who shows up at the right time of year and can still improve with another campaign under her belt.
The grinder with gears: The Yellow Clay (novice/second-season hurdler, 2m–2m4f)
Career highlights
Here’s your improving type. The Yellow Clay strung together a serious run through the winter and won the Lawlor’s of Naas, Ireland’s first Grade 1 of the calendar year for novice hurdlers. He keeps learning in good company and doesn’t mind a test.
He’s the kind of horse who can make a season by getting a little better each month. With another physical step forward, he can mix it at the spring festivals again—stamina and attitude both point that way.
What makes him stand out is the way he’s handled pressure at such an early stage. Plenty of novices look like world-beaters in small fields and then fold when they meet genuine Grade 1 opposition. The Yellow Clay has done the opposite: each time the bar has been raised, he’s found another gear. Winning the Lawlor’s of Naas proved he’s more than hype—it showed he can travel, jump, and finish against the best of his crop.
What to watch this season
Looking ahead, stamina looks like his natural friend. He shapes as though two and a half miles is comfortable now. Three miles could easily be his future.
That opens doors to races like the Albert Bartlett or even a Stayers’ Hurdle campaign further down the line.
In the meantime, keep an eye on his entries around Christmas and the Dublin Racing Festival. If he’s still progressing, he’ll arrive at Cheltenham with genuine claims.
The fast riser: Romeo Coolio (2m hurdler pushing for the top table)
Career highlights
Romeo Coolio arrived with a price tag and hype, then did the old-fashioned thing—he went out and ran to it.
He was high-class in bumpers, switched to hurdles with a tidy Down Royal win, and by Christmas 2024 he was landing a Grade 1 at Leopardstown.
He even came out of the Supreme at Cheltenham with his reputation enhanced. Ran a bold race and advertised more to come.
His sweet spot is two miles with proper pace. If he jumps like he did through the winter, he’s in the conversation for any top-end 2m novice/second-season target you care to name.
Part of the intrigue with him is the price tag—he wasn’t bought to be ordinary. That kind of investment usually means connections are willing to be patient, and you can see why. From the first day he set foot on a racecourse, he’s carried himself like a horse with a big future: composed in the prelims, sharp from the gates, and professional in the way he finishes his races.
What to watch this season
He also has that “crowd pleaser” quality. When he won his Grade 1 at Leopardstown over Christmas, the style of it—sitting handy, cruising into contention, and putting the race to bed—looked like something straight out of the Mullins playbook. For Elliott, that’s a huge card to hold: a young two-miler who can already mix it at the very top. If he keeps improving over hurdles, fine; if he switches to fences, he could be the one we’re all talking about this time next year.
Update – October 31, 2025
Romeo Coolio did exactly what was expected on his seasonal debut at Down Royal, landing a 2m4f contest with authority in a field of seven. Sent off a well-backed favourite at 4/6 off a mark of 135, he travelled smoothly throughout and never looked in danger. It was a straightforward assignment on paper, but he did it the right way—suggesting he’s in fine shape for tougher tests ahead.
🆕 Suggested addition
Three Card Brag — flying start and firmly onside
The Gordon Elliott horse who has started the 2025/26 jumps season best is Three Card Brag. He kicked off with a second at Listowel on September 24 at 9/1, running to OR 145 with an RPR 148 — a strong marker first time up. He then confirmed the vibe at Cheltenham on October 25, landing a Class 2 at 6/1 off OR 149, the kind of follow-up that screams “form holding and rising.”
We should see him again soon, and while he’s this sharp you want him in the notebook. We’ll be tracking him closely here as he capitalises on current momentum.
Mange Tout — the future of Gordon Elliott’s yard
Keep a close eye on this three-year-old from Gordon Elliott’s yard, who now boasts two wins from two starts. The first came in May 2025, before joining Elliott’s stable. His debut for the new trainer took place on November 1, 2025, at Down Royal in a 2m1f contest featuring five runners. He justified favouritism at 8/15, making all the running, quickening clear before the fourth hurdle, and winning comfortably.
Ballyfad — another horse with a big future
Ballyfad is a four-year-old with plenty expected of him in the coming seasons. On his 2025/26 jumps season debut, he secured victory at Down Royal in a 2m1f contest featuring six runners. Sent off a clear favourite at 10/11, he delivered as expected—racing close to the pace throughout, taking the lead two furlongs from home, and finishing strongly to win comfortably in the closing stages.
How to follow Gordon Elliott’s horses through the 2025/26 season
You can follow the season’s rhythm with our full National Hunt 2025/2026 calendar, but here’s the Elliott-specific version you’ll want to keep handy:
- Late November – Fairyhouse: the Hatton’s Grace is your Teahupoo temperature check. Even if he’s just “getting started,” the way he travels will tell you plenty.
- Christmas – Leopardstown: the natural crossroads. Brighterdaysahead can show her hand here; so can the up-and-comers.
- Early February – Dublin Racing Festival: where Elliott often lets the masks slip. This is a proper dress rehearsal for Found A Fifty, Firefox, and The Yellow Clay types.
- March – Cheltenham: Wodhooh proved the yard keeps firing to the last race; Teahupoo is the Thursday anchor; the rest fill in the picture.
- April – Aintree: Gerri Colombe showed he loves it there; Found A Fifty already has his Aintree badge.
- Late April/May – Punchestown: the exhale that still pays Grade 1 money. Firefox and The Yellow Clay feel made for it.
Factors that could shape Gordon Elliott’s 2025/26 campaign
Two things can swing a season: fitness and ground. Gerri Colombe’s ceiling depends on an uninterrupted prep; Teahupoo is never worse for a bit of cut but has enough class to cope when it’s kinder. Brighterdaysahead’s campaign choice (open Grade 1s vs. mares’ route) shifts the whole Elliott chessboard. And with Found A Fifty and Firefox, small trip tweaks (2m vs. 2m4f) are tactical, not identity crises—they’re good enough either way.
Summary: Gordon Elliott horses to follow in 2025/26
- Teahupoo: the benchmark at 3m hurdles; spring merchant.
- Brighterdaysahead: genuine championship mare—routes open, class not in doubt.
- Gerri Colombe: top staying chaser when healthy; Aintree hero, Gold Cup calibre.
- Found A Fifty: hard-knocking 2m chaser with Grade-1 receipts; can stretch.
- Firefox: hurdling talent turned slick chaser; DRF/Punchestown catnip.
- Wodhooh: high-class handicapper who wins important races when on song.
- The Yellow Clay: upwardly mobile graded hurdler; toughness + progress.
- Romeo Coolio: fast, professional two-miler; already a Grade-1 winner and still climbing.
Bring this horses to follow Gordon Elliott 2025 2026 list to Leopardstown at Christmas and to Cheltenham in March. If two or three of them hit their targets, your season storyline writes itself. And if you want to see how Gordon’s big guns stack up against the Closutton army, check out our Willie Mullins horses to follow 2025/26 guide.
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