Gordon Elliott has warned that Cheltenham Gold Cup third Conflated may need the run ahead of his seasonal reappearance in the Grade 3 Irish Daily Star - Best For Racing Coverage Chase at Punchestown on Wednesday.
Winner of the Grade 1 Savills Chase at Leopardstown last December, Conflated out-ran all market expectations in the Cheltenham Gold Cup to finish third, despite being hampered in the second half of the race. He was well-beaten by the superior winner Galopin Des Champs, but it cemented the nine-year-old's position near the top of the staying chaser division going into this season.
"Conflated is in good form, but will come on for the run," said Gordon Elliott.
"He needed the run when starting off last season in c and will need the run even more this time. We need to get a run into him to see where we are with a view to going back to Down Royal again."
Conflated will be joined by stablemates Delta Work and Hurricane Georgie, who hold completely different profiles. Delta Work has relished the switch to cross-country races in the last few seasons and recorded back-to-back victories in the Glenfarclas Chase at Cheltenham in March, whilst Hurricane Georgie has been kept busy over the summer months in handicap chases.
"Delta Work needs some rain overnight. We might tip away in a few cross-country races with him and head back to Cheltenham again.
"We're trying to get some black type with Hurricane Georgie."
