Race ready: Gordon Elliott mob-handed for Christmas meetings

Organising Christmas is a headache for most but spare a logistical thought for trainer Gordon Elliott and his team of 20 St Stephens Day runners which helps illustrate the sweep of the upcoming holiday racing action across Ireland and Britain.

Elliott's marquee horse is the Michael O'Leary owned Don Cossack, a 9-4 favourite to become just the sixth Irish trained winner of Kempton's King George VI Chase.

But Elliott, who passed the century mark for winners this season in Ireland and Britain earlier this month, will also have half a dozen runners at Leopardstown, five more at Limerick and a team of seven taking their chances at Down Royal.

As if that wasn’t enough, Dove Mountain will also take his chance in a flat handicap on Wolverhampton’s all-weather surface.

Not surprisingly Elliott’s principal focus is on getting Don Cossack, the horse he describes as the best he’s trained, to Kempton in top shape.

“He’s in fantastic form and looks an absolute picture,” said the trainer. “I hope he continues to prove me right and we have every faith in him for another great run.”

Biggest rival 

Bookmakers believe Don Cossack's biggest rival will be the Willie Mullins trained Vautour, part of a five-strong team Ireland's champion trainer sends to Kempton.

Mullins has 16 St Stephens Day declarations in all with half a dozen of them at Leopardstown, headed by the Grade 1 Racing Post Novice Chase favourite, Douvan.

Ground conditions at Leopardstown ahead of its renowned four-day Christmas festival are “soft” with an unsettled weather forecast although there are no apparent concerns about racing going ahead at any of the Irish fixtures.

Up to 59,000 are expected to attend Leopardstown over the four days and manager Pat Keogh said: "Depending on the vagaries of the weather that figure could go up or down a bit but the forecast is for Stephens Day to be nice."

Up to 40,000 are expected to attend Limerick’s four-day festival where ground conditions are “heavy”.

Manager Conor O’Neill said: “We’ve had 20mms of rain in the last 48 hours but the track is taking it well and we don’t envisage any problems.”