Gordon Elliott: My Monday runners at Naas and Galway

Will you back Gordon's runners on Monday?

Cullentra House Stables have one runner at Naas and two at Galway for the bank holiday Monday in Ireland. Read Gordon Elliot's exclusive thoughts on their chances today.

14:25 Naas - Mount Benbulben
It's fair to describe his last race in the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham (finished seventh of twenty runners) as a little disappointing. He raced a bit freely on that occasion so I was glad to see him come out of the race in good shape. This is his first time running in a chase and while he's back at two miles today, I still think he'll improve when stepped up to the longer distances in the future. Davy Condon gets the ride and the soft ground shouldn't be a problem. As regards his chances this afternoon, I'll be disappointed if he doesn't manage to place.

16:05 Galway - Romanesco
He makes a quick return to the racecourse having won a 3m handicap chase at Fakenham on Friday and I was glad to see him come back homein great shape. He gets a 4lb penalty today but I reckon he's still off a very nice racing weight with Andrew Lynch booked to ride. Previously, he looked almost certain to win at Cheltenham when falling at the last and I'm told his price was as low as 1/20 in-running on Betfair. This is a valuable little handicap and there some good horses entered but we are confident he'll make an impression off this mark and he has every chance of taking some prizemoney home. The tongue-tie has proved useful and he's won on soft and heavy ground before so there's no problem with the going.

16:35 Galway - Totally Couture
Finished mid-division in a bumper earlier this month in his debut race at Gowran. He's very much a work in progress and he still looks a bit weak at the moment. As the outsider of the field, we'd be delighted with a place but there's a couple of horses entered that will be very hard to beat. The experience will do him good and I hope he comes on for the run.