A Cheltenham Festival winner for Noel and Valerie Moran must be towards the top of Gordon Elliott’s wishlist for 2022.
The multi-millionaire couple have become one of the biggest owners in the National Hunt game since buying their first horse just over six years ago.
The green, white and red colours of their Bective Stud are now seen at the majority of jumps meetings up and down Ireland.
Like Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary, the Morans stood by Elliott after a photo emerged of the trainer sitting on top of a dead horse last year.
Cheveley Park Stud moved eight horses from Elliott’s yard, with Envoi Allen, Quilixios, Ballyadam, Malone Road and Guily Billy going to Henry de Bromhead, while Sir Gerhard, Classic Getaway and Grangeclare West moving to Willie Mullins.
The Morans are now hoping to reap the rewards of sticking with Elliott though and have a number of fancied horses running at Cheltenham this week.
But they won’t be taking anything for granted at the meeting after watching 11/8 favourite Zanahiyr finish just fourth in the Triumph Hurdle last year when one of the bankers of the week.
Zanahiyr will take his chance in the Champion Hurdle this time around, but looks to have a lot to do to beat the supermare that is Honeysuckle after finishing 6½ lengths behind her at Leopardstown.
Another potential superstar for the couple is Ginto, who gave them their first Grade 1 success when landing the Lawlor’s Of Naas Novice Hurdle in early January. He will run in the Albert Bartlett on Friday.
Hollow Games was third behind Ginto at Naas and finished in the same position behind Minella Cocooner and Minella Crooner at the Dublin Racing Festival. He looks set to run in either the Albert Bartlett or Martin Pipe.
Jamie Codd has ridden plenty of good bumper horses over the years and he has spoken about American Mike in glowing terms ahead of the Champion Bumper.
He was last seen romping home by 17 lengths at Navan in December and connections seem bullish on his chances.
Although he will have to beat the odds-on favourite in Facile Vega, son of the legendary Quevega, who the Mullins team seem very sweet on.
The Morans did see their colours come home third in the race two years ago when Queens Brook finished behind Ferny Hollow and Appreciate It.
They then went a place better in a Cheltenham contest 12 months ago when The Bosses Oscar finished runner-up in the Pertemps, while Petit Mouchoir was also second in the County Hurdle.
Queens Brook will run in the Mares Hurdle on Tuesday.
Riviere D’etel was perhaps unlucky not to bag the Morans their second Grade 1 after he made a slight mistake at the last in the Irish Arkle before the winner Blue Lord crossed in front of him.
Connections will be hoping to gain revenge on that rival at Prestbury Park, but they also have English runner Edwardstone to worry about this time around.
Among their other horses who could run in some of the handicaps this week are Fakir D’alene, Grand Roi, Party Central, Au Fleuron, Folcano, Tullybeg and Gringo D’aubrell.
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