Elliott: Outlander and Poli not in Cossack's league but merit run

Gordon Elliott readily admits neither of his Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup candidates, Outlander and Don Poli, are in the same league as Don Cossack who won the race for him and Gigginstown House Stud in impressive style a year ago, but he believes both horses have the form to be worthy of lining up for a shot at the glittering prize on March 17.

Speaking at his Cullentra House stables in County Meath on Tuesday, Elliott said: "Had we not had to retire Don Cossack then he'd probably be a short-priced favourite for the race this year. This time our two runners don't have the same sort of profile but we're looking forward to running them in the Gold Cup.

"I'm not stupid enough to think we're going to win the race. It would be a dream result if one of them could win but they're entitled to take their chance in what looks an open race and their preparation is going well."

Outlander has not run since beating Don Poli by two and a quarter lengths in the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown's Christmas meeting and his absence from the track over the past two months was one of choice.

Elliott explained: "The Lexus was Outlander's fourth race of the season and we decided to give him a break and have him fresh and well for Cheltenham. He's never run over three and a quarter miles but got three miles well in the Lexus and we don't see the extra distance being a problem.

"We'll probably drop him in and let him work his way into the race. Compared with many of his rivals, he's still a bit unexposed and, hopefully, he will improve on what he has done so far."

Don Poli, who finished third behind Don Cossack a year ago when trained by Willie Mullins, remains something of an enigma although he does have two festival wins to his name having won the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Hurdle in 2014 and the RSA Chase two years ago.

Elliott said: "You never know what you're going to get from Don Poli. His first run for us at Down Royal in November was embarrassing. We sent him hunting and he was much better in the Lexus and again in the Irish Gold Cup last time when he finished a good third. Hopefully, he'll hit another going day in the Gold Cup."

Regarding riding plans for the pair, Elliott said: "It will be Bryan's [Cooper] call as to which of them he'll ride and he'll probably delay a decision until as late as possible. Whichever one he rides then Jack Kennedy might ride the other one although I'll have to discuss that with Michael and Eddie [O'Leary]."

Empire Of Dirt, another Gigginstown-owned chaser, is in the Gold Cup but is more likely to run in the Ryanair Chase.

"If there was to be a problem with either Don Poli or Outlander then Empire Of Dirt could be switched to the Gold Cup but the Ryanair is the plan," Elliott said.

A much improved performer in the second half of last season when trained by Colm Murphy, the ten-year-old won the Leopardstown Chase and the Browne Advisory & Merriebelle Stable Plate at the Festival, and after landing the Troytown Chase for Elliott at Navan in November, he was second in the Irish Gold Cup at his first attempt in Grade 1 company at Leopardstown last month when losing out by three quarters of a length to Sizing John.

"He's shown he stays three miles but the way he travels in his races would make you think the shorter trip in the Ryanair will suit him," Elliott said.