Is The Gordon Elliott Form A Worry Ahead Of The DRF at Leopardstown?

With the Dublin Racing Festival on the horizon most punters will turn to the big-gun Irish trainers – Willie Mullins, Gavin Cromwell, Joseph O’Brien, Henry de Bromhead and Gordon Elliott. 

However, ahead of the two-day meeting this weekend – one of these heavyweight stables has a slightly worry strike-rate.

Gordon Elliott Form A Worry Heading Into The Dublin Racing Festival

During the first half of the Irish jumps season, there has been no trainer in better form than GORDON ELLIOTT.

As of close of play on Tuesday 27th January, the County Meath handler has fired in 137 winners and banked a cool €3.2m in total prize money.

However, in more recent days and weeks – the Elliott winners have dried up a tad – which is, of course, alarming ahead of the Dublin Racing Festival.

In the last 14 days (13th-26th Jan), Gordon Elliott has sent a massive 60 horses to post and ONLY FOUR have won.

Yes, he had a winner at Punchestown on Monday with Spinningayarn, plus Favori De Champdou won the Cross Country race at Cheltenham on Saturday.

But he’s still actually only had FOUR winners from his last 60 runners.

Which has to be a worry if you are thinking of rowing in with some of the big Elliott DRF runners next week.

That said, there is some small encouragement, with 67% of his last 12 runners hitting the top three.

Gordon Elliott Form 

Note: Subject to change (correct as Tuesday 27th January 2026)

El Cairos, Brighterdaysahead and Romeo Coolio Three Big Gordon Elliott DRF Hopes

Three of the main Gordon Elliott DRF runners will be El Cairos, Brighterdaysahead and Romeo Coolio.

The former (Brighterdaysahead) is one of the big fancies for the Irish Champion Hurdle on Sunday February 1st – where she’ll take on Lossiemouth, who fell in the race last season.

Then Romeo Coolio is the current third favourite for the Arkle Novices’ Chase at the 2026 Cheltenham Festival – behind Lulmaba and Kopeck Des Boardes.

He was last seen winning the Racing Post Novice Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas and will head to the DRF 3-from-3 over fences.

At the moment he’s entered in both the Irish Arkle (Sat 31st Jan) and Ladbrokes Novice Chase (Sun 1st Feb).

But the recent rain and Leopardstown weather forecast could help Romeo Coolio, who has been running as if he wants further.

While another big Gordon Elliott DRF runner is Supreme Novices’ Hurdle fancy El Cairos.

He’s entered in the Tattersalls Ireland Novice Hurdle (Sun 1st Feb) and will be looking to make amends for a late fall, when having the race won, at Leopardstown on Boxing Day.

When Is The Dublin Racing Festival 2026?

The 2026 Dublin Racing Festival will run over two days, with the action getting going on Saturday 31st January this year.

With the fixture ending on Sunday 1st February.

There are seven races on day one and eight on day two – meaning 15 races in total.

While some of the DRF races are also expected to be shown on the ITV Racing schedule.

How Many DRF Winners Have Gordon Elliott and Willie Mullins Had Recently?

Okay, in Gordon Elliott’s defence the DRF has generally been dominated by Willie Mullins.

Mullins has fired in a massive 16 winners over the last two years at the meeting.

Compared to just the one by Gordon Elliott.

However, with Elliott having a top first half of the season and several big chances at the 2026 Dublin Racing Festival – many are suggesting things might be tighter this time.

But, with the highlighted recent poor Elliott strike-rate – this will also have punters questioning if they should be lumping on some of these well-fancied GE runners next week.

Elliott drew a blank at the meeting in 2025.

Did you know? His last winner at the DRF was MAXXUM winning a handicap hurdle in 2024.