How Many Cheltenham Festival Winners Has Gordon Elliott Trained?

Not many trainers have sent out 40+ winners at the Cheltenham Festival – in fact, only five. But one of those is the Irish-based Gordon Elliott yard, who will head into the 2025 meeting with exactly 40 past successes and needs just one more to sur the legendary Fulke Walwyn.

Gordon Elliott Has Trained 40 Cheltenham Festival Winners Before 2025

Okay, a certain Willie Mullins is way out on his own in the ‘Cheltenham Winners Stakes’ with an incredible 103 and counting.

While despite blanking in 2024, Nicky Henderson will start the 2025 meeting with 73 past wins and Paul Nicholls has 49.

However, just behind this trio is Gordon Elliott and past handler Fulke Walwyn, who sent out winners between 1946 and 1986 – both have 40 Cheltenham Festival winners to their name.

This means that Elliott will need just one success at the 2025 Cheltenham Festival to become the fourth winning-most trainer on his own.

Elliott is also six clear of Martin Pipe (34), a trainer he actually used to ride for back in the day.

Before the 2025 Festival, Gordon Elliott is third best in the top trainers market with the best horse racing betting sites in the UK – with Willie Mullins, of course, the clear favourite and Nicky Henderson third best.

The Cross Country Chase Has Been Gordon Elliott’s Best Cheltenham Festival Race

Of the 40 Cheltenham Festival winners for Gordon Elliott – it’s been the Cross Country Chase that’s been his best.

Elliott has fired in five winners of the Cross Country Chase over the years – which included double wins for Delta Work, who sadly died earlier this year, and former two-time Grand National winner Tiger Roll.

He’ll be looking for win number six in the Cross Country in 2025 with Galvin, who was runner-up in 2023, looking his best chance.

Gordon Elliott’s Cross Country Chase Winners at the Cheltenham Festival

Gordon Elliott Has Won The Cheltenham Gold Cup Just Once

The Gold Cup is the race with the most Cheltenham Festival prize money, but it’s also a prize Gordon Elliott has only won once.

This sole success came with Don Cossack in 2016, when this Gigginstown House Stud-owned chaser powered up the hill to reward Cheltenham favourite backers – beating Djakadam by 4 1/2 lengths (watch below).

His Gold Cup win turned out to be his last ever race though – after retiring soon after.

Gordon Elliott Has Won The Last Two Runnings Of The Stayers’ Hurdle

Of the Championship races the Stayers’ Hurdle has been the best for Gordon Elliott. But only thanks to wins in the last two years.

Prior to 2023, Elliott had drawn a blank in the day three feature, but he turned that around with Festival stalwart Sire Du Berlais adding the Stayers’ Hurdle to his two Pertemps Final Network Hurdle wins.

Then 12 months ago in 2024 Elliott doubled that tally when Teahupoo landed the odds and this Robcour-owned 8 year-old is all the rage to make it three wins in the Stayers Hurdle for Elliott in 2025.

The Pertemps Final and Martin Pipe Hurdles Have Been Good Races For Gordon Elliott Too

Other races that have been kind to Gordon Elliott over the years have been the Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle and Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle. With three wins in each.

Delta Work won the 2018 Pertemps, with the already mentioned Sire Du Berlais winning in 2019 and 2020.

While in the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle the Elliott trio of wins came with Champagne Classic (2017), Blow By Blow (2018) and last year with Better Days Ahead (2024).

Chicago Grey and Carlito Brigante Were Gordon Elliott’s First Two Cheltenham Festival Winners

The 40 Gordon Elliott Cheltenham Festival winners have all come since 2011 – which is when he sent out his first successes at the biggest jumps meeting.

These came with Chicago Grey winning the NH Chase and Carlito Brigante landing the Coral Cup in 2011.

Elliott has gone onto win the NH Chase three more times – with Cause Of Causes (2015), Tiger Roll (2017) and Ravenhill (2020).

While his most recent winner at the meeting was in fact in the very last race in 2024 the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle – when Better Days Ahead won.

Gordon Elliott Is Still To Win The Champion Hurdle, Champion Chase and Ryanair Chase

Despite the impressive haul of 40 Gordon Elliott Cheltenham Festival winners, none of these have come in three of the main Championship races – the Champion Hurdle, Champion Chase and Ryanair Chase.

Apple’s Jade was sent off the 7/4 favourite in the 2019 Champion Hurdle – but was a well-beaten sixth.

There is a chance he can break his Champion Hurdle duck in 2025 though – with his classy mare Brighterdaysahead a possible runner if not heading to the Mares’ Hurdle.

EVERY Gordon Elliott Cheltenham Festival Winner Listed (40 In Total)

• Turners Novices’ Hurdle – (2) Samcro (2018), Envoi Allen (2020)
• Brown Advisory & Merriebelle Stable Plate Handicap Chase – (1) The Storyteller (2018)
• Champion Bumper – (2) Fayonagh (2017), Envoi Allen (2019)
• Cheltenham Gold Cup – (1) Don Cossack (2016)
• Coral Cup – (3) Carlito Brigante (2011), Diamond King (2016), Commander of Fleet (2022)
• Mares’ Hurdle – (1) Apples Jade (2017)
• Fred Winter Juvenile Novices’ Handicap Hurdle – (4) Flaxen Flare (2013), Veneer of Charm (2018), Aramax (2020), Jazzy Matty (2023)
• Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup – (2) Cause of Causes (2016), Milan Native (2020)
• Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase – (5) Cause of Causes (2017), Tiger Roll (2018, 2019), Delta Work (2022, 2023)
• Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle – (3) Champagne Classic (2017), Blow By Blow (2018), Better Days Ahead (2024)
• National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup – (4) Chicago Grey (2011), Cause of Causes (2015), Tiger Roll (2017), Ravenhill (2020)
• Pertemps Final – (3) Delta Work (2018), Sire Du Berlais (2019, 2020)
• Stayers’ Hurdle – (2) Sire Du Berlais (2023), Teahupoo (2024)
• Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle – (1) Stellar Story (2024)
• Supreme Novices’ Hurdle – (1) Labaik (2017)
• Triumph Hurdle – (2) Tiger Roll (2014), Farclas (2018)
• Golden Miller Novices’ Chase – (1) Samcro (2020)
• Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Chase – (1) Chosen Mate (2020)
• JLT Novices Chase – (1) Shattered Love (2018)

What Are The Best Gordon Elliott-trained Cheltenham Runners For 2025?

Romeo Coolio:

Runner-up in the 2024 Champion Bumper and has progressed well over hurdles this season – winning two from three. Entered in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and Turners Novices’ Hurdle.

Brighterdaysahead –

Shock defeat in the Mares Novices’ Hurdle at the Festival last season but has bounced back this term to beat State Man twice. Might go for the easier Mares Hurdle option but would certainly not be out of place in the Champion Hurdle against Constitution Hill either.

Galvin –

Festival regular these days for this 11 year-old, who will be running at the meeting for the sixth time. Won the 2021 NH Chase and was 4th in the 2022 Gold Cup and also the 2023 Cross Country, where he’s expected to head again in 2025.

Firefox –

Third in the 2024 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and has since been running over fences this season – winning one from four and last seen running third to Majborough in the Irish Arkle. Holds many entries at this stage – Arkle, Grand Annual, Jack Richards and Plate.

Kalypso’chance –

Has been popular in the Champion Bumper market since bolting up at Punchestown and Navan this season. Will be looking to add to the past wins in the past for Elliott of Envoi Allen and Fayonagh.

The Wallpark –

Has a top ‘wins-to-runs’ record over hurdles – winning 50% of his 12 starts to date. 4th in the Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot last time and prior to that landed a nice handicap at Cheltenham in October. Holds entries in the Pertemps and Stayers – two races Elliott loves to target.

Teahupoo –

Won the 2024 Stayers’ Hurdle after running third in 2023. In a division with little depth looks to have the race at his mercy again and if he can would be giving Elliott his third success in this event in as many years. He’s one of the Cheltenham bankers for many heading into 2025.

The Yellow Clay –

Sixth in the Champion Bumper last season and hasn’t looked back since after being switched to hurdles – being 4-from-4. Last seen winning the Grade 1 Lawlor’s Of Naas in January and is sure to be popular wherever he ends up. Entered in the Turners Novices’ Hurdle and Albert Bartlett.

Wodhooh –

Mare who has won all six of her starts over hurdles – including beating recent Betfair Hurdle winner Joyeuse at the Cheltenham December Meeting. Has been freshened up since after a busy end to 2024 – maybe to protect her handicap mark. There could be a lot more to come and olds entries in the Martin Pipe and Coral Cup.

Cheltenham Festival Top Trainers (before 2024)