Outrage as Gordon Elliott enters 17 horses in one race and punters scream ‘the sport is broken’

5 months ago 31

PUNTERS have claimed racing is ‘broken’ after seeing Gordon Elliott enter a whopping 17 horses in one race.

Just seven of the entries in 24-runner Troytown Handicap Chase at Navan on Sunday do not belong to the Cullentra yard chief.

Elliott, a three-time Grand National winner, currently has two of the top three in the betting with 8-1 second fav Hollow Games and 10-1 Gevrey.

But it is Noel Meade’s 7-1 chance Thedevilscoachman for owner JP McManus who leads the way in the 2.32pm, three-mile contest.

Elliott has an unbelievable ten runners in the Gigginstown silks of Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary.

Among them are Grade 2-winning chaser Farouk D’alene and Grade 3-winning hurdler Frontal Assault.

The only other trainers to enter horses in the hugely popular race worth more than £50,000 to the winner are Meade, Gavin Cromwell, Henry de Bromhead and Colm Murphy.

Respected racing figure James Knight posted a photo of the entries and wrote: “I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a set of entries that screams ‘the sport is broken’ more than this one.

“I mean what the hell is going on here?

“I’ve never seen 17/24 entires in a Grade 3 handicap chase from one yard.

“This should be almost the Irish equivalent of the Coral Gold Cup – complete farce.”

Another person branded the state of the entries ‘shocking’ while a fellow punter wrote: “Smothering the competition.”

Elliott is red-hot at the moment and landed a 300-1 six-timer at Down Royal last Friday.

The 45-year-old Irish handler then claimed the first five races on Saturday at the same track and had two winners at Gowran too, taking his tally for two days to a ridiculous 13.

Declarations for the Navan race – when we know for certain who is running – will be made tomorrow.