Cheltenham Festival News: Navan win sees Farouk D’Alene snipped for Brown Advisory
- Planet Sport writer
- 23 February 2022
Gordon Elliott is coming back strongly from recent controversy and looks to have another Cheltenham Festival fancy with Farouk D’Alene after victory at Navan.
Gordon Elliott's Farouk D'Alene sent out some Cheltenham markers with a dogged victory at Navan on Tuesday.
The Gigginstown House Stud runner took full advantage of the 7lb he was receiving from Beacon Edge to beat the fellow O'Leary inmate from the Noel Meade yard.
The pair were shoulder to shoulder over the last fence but 4-11 favourite Farouk D'Alene had enough in the tank coming to the line, eventually prevailing by three-quarters of a length under Jack Kennedy.
Betfair make the winner a 12-1 chance from 14s for the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase at next month's Cheltenham Festival.
Elliott said: "He was entitled to do that and he only does what he has to do.
🥊 Farouk D'alene vs Beacon Edge
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) February 22, 2022
Cracking tussle between the Gigginstown House Stud duo, but Farouk D'alene outpoints Beacon Edge to provide a double for @gelliott_racing & @jackkennedy15 at @NavanRacecourse @BetVictorRacing pic.twitter.com/YRujDUeRFd
"I thought Limerick was going to happen again there and he was going to get collared on the line.
"He's a grand horse. He's in the Brown Advisory and the National Hunt Chase. We'll see where we are and see what the ground is and then make our mind up. He'd need soft in it.
"He a deceiving type of horse, he's quicker than he looks.
"He didn't jump great in Naas the last day and it took him a while to get his confidence there. Down over the last three he was good."
Meanwhile, Elliott's other runner Run Wild Fred was pulled out due to unsuitable ground and could also make an impact at the Festival, holding multiple entries for March.
