Cheltenham Festival markets set for huge shake-up with Gordon Elliott ready to unleash record-breaking £420,000 horse
THE Cheltenham Festival markets look set for another huge shake-up with a Gordon Elliott monster about to make his debut.
Bought for a record-breaking £420,000 after winning his sole point-to-point at Belclare in Ireland, big things are expected of Romeo Coolio.
The horse has not been sighted on a racecourse but is already 10-1 second-fav for the Champion Bumper.
Those odds could crash if the syndicate-owned runner puts in a good performance when he is expected to make his debut at Fairyhouse next Saturday.
Romeo Coolio was bought by KTDA Racing at Cheltenham’s Tattersalls sales last March.
The £420,000 price tag was the highest ever paid at the prestigious auction.
Bidding went into a new dimension because Romeo Coolio’s point-to-point win came in the same race three-time Gold Cup hero Best Mate and Grand National winner Minella Times also won.
Incredibly, that £420,000 figure was matched by Elliott’s other runner and current Champion Bumper fav Jalon D’oudaries at the same sale.
Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary purchased that horse for his Gigginstown operation.
Cullentra boss Elliott has the two big players in the race that moulds future champions.
But it’s clear punters are expecting big things from Romeo Coolio, who can be backed at 10-1 to Jalon D’oudaries’ 13-2 price.
Winning bidder Aidan O’Ryan said after signing a cheque for just under half a million: “His former trainer Donnchadh Doyle has always been mad about him.
“He is a gorgeous horse.”
Mind you, Jalon D’oudaries, who won at Leopardstown over Christmas, boasts huge credentials of his own.
A dual winner under rules, his sole point-to-point victory came in a race won previously by Grade 1 superstars Bravemansgame and Gerri Colombe.
The lively ante-post markets were all change last week after a string of JP McManus-owned horses were ruled out.
Champion Bumper odds
Jalon D’oudaries 13-2
Romeo Coolio 10-1
Fleur Au Fusil 12-1
Kish Bank 14-1
Jeroboam Machin 16-1
Aurora Vega 16-1
20-1 bar
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