Gerri Colombe could enjoy spin over hurdles as National prep

January 15, 2026

Gerri Colombe could enjoy a spin over hurdles at Gowran Park as his Aintree Grand National preparation begins.

The ten-year-old was given an entry in the Grade 2 Galmoy Hurdle on January 22, won by his trainer Gordon Elliott most recently in 2023 with Teahupoo.

The race, sometimes used as a Stayers’ Hurdle prep, instead might be a stepping stone to the Grand National for Gerri Colombe.

The son of Saddler Maker made his return to action in the Savills Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas, pulled up before the ninth fence and he most likely needed it to dust the cobwebs off.

Elliott revealed in the build-up to the Savills he’d have been delighted with fifth or sixth, declaring it a fact finding mission to see whether he retains the ability to go back to the Cheltenham Gold Cup or explore something different.

Gerri Colombe had been absent since November 2024 after suffering a stifle injury which involves damage to the large, complex hind limb joint such as meniscus tears or ligament issues.

He was given an entry in the Gold Cup earlier this month but the Grand National is probably more his bag at this stage of his career and he can be backed at as big as 100/1 in the ante-post market.

An excellent servant to his Robcour connections, Gerri Colombe owes the game nothing and even getting him back on the track is a huge success.

💪 Gold Cup second Gerri Colombe goes one better to land the Bowl Chase @gelliott_racing | @jackkennedy15 | @Brian_Acheson pic.twitter.com/HIjGUA9jTN

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) April 11, 2024

Gerri Colombe has valuable course form around the Liverpool track, a good winner of the Grade 1 Aintree Bowl in 2024 and he also landed the top-level Mildmay Novices’ Chase a year prior.

He’s best known as an elite staying chaser on his day, runner-up to Galopin Des Champs in the Gold Cup at the peak of his powers and he can’t be dismissed lightly when stamina comes to the fore.

With a rating of 166 he’d assumedly be in and around top weight on the day (11st 12lbs) and that’s certainly not an easy feat to overcome.

Since 2015 there have been four Grand National winners who carried 11st 5lbs or more – Many Clouds, 11-09 (2015), Tiger Roll, 11-05 (2019), I Am Maximus, 11-06 (2024) and Nick Rockett, 11-08 (2025).

Galmoy Hurdle entries include defending champion Rocky’s Diamond

It doesn’t look a bad renewal of the Galmoy with nine entries headed by defending champion Rocky’s Diamond.

The six-year-old was last seen finishing sixth in the Christmas Hurdle at Leopardstown and he’s lost his way a bit this season after a decent chase debut at Galway in September.

If all nine turn up it looks a stronger race than 12 months ago with veteran Home By The Lee also a possibility, fourth at Leopardstown and runner-up in this race four years ago at 80/1.

Paul Nolan’s Feet Of A Dancer gave Wodhooh plenty to think about in the Kerrymount Mares Hurdle at Leopardstown and could have a part to play.

Elliott’s Staffordshire Knot seems to have turned a corner, sorting his jumping out and winning each of his last two starts after firing ten straight blanks but connections could have a crack at the Pertemps in mind.