Gordon Elliott: My thoughts on Mount Benbulben today

Mount Benbulben makes his chase debut today

Gordon tries again with exciting chasing prospect Mount Benbulben, who was intended to make his first start over fences at Punchestown last week...

16:35 Tipperary - Mount Benbulben

We had intended to start his season at Punchestown last week but the meeting had to be abandoned so it's to Tipperary today for him.

As said earlier last week, we've always thought an awful lot of him and he has always looked a chaser in the making so hopefully he will prove that over the coming seasons. He picked up an injury in the middle of last season and went to Cheltenham too fresh after a long lay-off.

This is a fresh start for him and we still hold high hopes for him so fingers crossed he'll have a trouble-free passage through the season.

He has schooled very well and we're looking forward to getting going with him but that's not certain to happen today as there's an inspection of the chase track at Tipperary. Hopefully the weather will hold and it will go ahead. We haven't brought him away for any racecourse gallops but he's as fit as we can get him at home.

As I explained previously, Davy Condon will ride him this year. Paul Carberry is committed to Noel Meade's stable and cannot guarantee to be available for him.

The difference between today's race and the one we intended running in last week is that this is shorter - only two miles and a furlong. With that in mind, Davy will make more use of him, probably racing in the first two from the outset. It's a decent race but we'll be hoping for a very positive start.