Gordon Elliott set to gatecrash King George Chase with Gerri Colombe as trainer brands proposed new rule ‘lunacy’

GORDON ELLIOTT is set to gatecrash Boxing Day’s big King George Chase by running stable superstar Gerri Colombe.

And the trainer has also blasted a proposed new rule which would see him limited on how many runners he can have in a race as ‘lunacy’.

Elliott looks set to run his stable star Gerri Colombe in the King GeorgePA

The Cullentra boss told Nick Luck’s podcast that he is ‘leaning towards’ running big Gold Cup hope Gerri Colombe in the Kempton showpiece.

The recent Ladbrokes Champion Chase winner, whose only defeat was a short-head loss in the Brown Advisory last March, was smashed in the market a few weeks ago.

And he is as short as 9-4, joint-fav with Paul Nicholls’ Gold Cup runner-up Bravemansgame with some bookies.

Elliott said: “At the moment we’re leaning towards the King George with Gerri.

“It looks like the race is going to cut up more than the one at Leopardstown.

“Gerri is in great form, he doesn’t do anything fancy and he’s very laid back.

“All being well we’ll confirm next week where we’ll go.”

Elliott also broke his silence over a proposed new rule which would rock racing.

The BHA have sounded stakeholders to see what they think about limiting the number of runners a trainer can have in a race.

The change would hit Elliott – had six runners in this year’s Grand National and seven in 2022 – and Willie Mullins the hardest.

And there is urgency to get the rule through ahead of April’s Grand National – if it is given the go-ahead.

But Elliott, who declared 14 of the 20 Troytown Chase runners in the end and had four of the first five finishers, including winner Coko Beach, said it was ‘lunacy’.

He said: “Obviously it’s a worry. I think it’s a massive worry for the owners as much as anyone.

“These are the people investing a lot of money into the game.

“I didn’t break any rules in the Troytown.

“It’s massive to support these races. You see the problem in the UK with small fields and I wouldn’t want that happening in Ireland.

“I think this could be lunacy if they bring in a rule like this.”

Bosses have already made five key changes to the world’s most famous race, most notably slashing the number of runners from 40 to 34.

Irish trainers have won four of the past five Grand Nationals.

A BHA spokesperson told the Racing Post: “From time to time the BHA will contact stakeholders for views on various issues.

“We would not comment on speculation around private discussions.”

King George Chase odds via Paddy Power

9-4 Bravemansgame
9-4 Gerri Colombe
5-1 Allaho
7-1 Shishkin
9-1 Royale Pagaille
9-1 The Real Whacker
16-1 Galopin Des Champs
20-1 bar

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