Gordon Elliott was just 29 years old when he took out his trainer’s licence in 2006.

Less than 12 months later, he had saddled Silver Birch to win the 2007 Grand National at Aintree.

At that stage of his career, Elliott was just getting started but the County Meath-based trainer continued to elevate his reputation in the racing world.

The Cullentra House stable went from strength to strength and eventually, Elliott had built up a stable to rival that of the legendary Willie Mullins.

While he has yet to topple Mullins in the Irish Jumps Trainers Championship, Elliott has been crowned the leading trainer at the Cheltenham Festival on two occasions.

After Mullins, Elliott’s training operation is the next strongest in Ireland and his horses will be dominant once again at the major festivals in both Ireland and the UK.

Here are 10 Gordon Elliott horses from the stable we think you should follow for the duration of the 2024/25 season:

American Mike

Bective Stud originally spent £195,000 for eye-catching point-to-point winner American Mike at the sales and he has rewarded them with five victories already.

If he can brush up on his jumping then he can make giant strides this campaign.

Ash Tree Meadow

Ash Tree Meadow was very disappointing on his seasonal return at the start of October but I wouldn’t write him off this early.

I can see the eight-time scorer picking up the winning thread soon enough and he’s one to watch in the horse racing betting.

Firefox

If you check out Firefox’s form figures in your browser, you will find the six-year-old has never finished out of the top four places in any of his starts.

He ran some excellent races last season and we can expect much of the same this term.

Found A Fifty

Found A Fifty showed much-improved form over fences and had an excellent season, winning three of his six starts and finishing runner-up on the other three occasions.

He won in Grade 1 company at Leopardstown last Christmas and did so again at Aintree in April. This horse looks destined for the top.

Gerri Colombe

Undoubtedly  the best chaser Elliott currently has in his stable, Gerri Colombe will be targeted at the Cheltenham Gold Cup again this year and you can check out his Cheltenham odds today.

He’s likely to pick up some other prizes along the way so has to be automatically included in any “to follow” list.

Jalon D'oudairies

Elliott’s Champion Bumper third has a bright future ahead of him and it will be interesting to see how he gets on over hurdles this time around. I suspect he’ll be a natural.

Minella Crooner

It’s sometimes difficult to work out which Minella Crooner you’re going to get on the day, but when the eight-year-old is good, he’s very good!

He’ll definitely pick up a few victories this season, but catching him right is the key.

Teahupoo

Teahupoo finished last season unbeaten and was the first horse to complete the Cheltenham-Punchestown double in the equivalent races this century.

The seven-year-old will be dining from the top table again this term I’m sure.

Wodhooh 

The Sundowners Partnership had a ball with this four-year-old filly last season and they can do so again in 2024/25.

Formerly trained on the Flat by Sir Michael Stoute, Wodhooh is likely to be heading into more Listed events this year.

Zaynab

Gordon Elliott’s Zaynab made a positive start to her new career over jumps by landing a race at Listowel.

A half-sister to the classy Zanahiyr, Zaynab had won two of her four starts on the Flat this season and even ran in the Sandringham Stakes at Royal Ascot.

The daughter of Phoenix Of Spain was well fancied for the Charleville Cheese 3-Y-O Hurdle and quickened up nicely under Sam Ewing to score by four lengths.

She will be an interesting youngster to follow this season.

*Credit for the main photo belongs to Adobe*

Nicky Henderson began his training career in 1978, after being the assistant to Fred Winter. He moved to the Seven Barrows yard with its private gallops in 1992 and has not looked back.

The yard has excellent facilities and plenty of land around for the horses to relax when out of training or between races.

Henderson has trained some of the greats down the years - Altior, Buveur d'Air, Epatante, L'Ami Serge, Might Bite, Shishkin, Sprinter Sacre and of course – Constitution Hill. Some of his horses have even featured in the annual Royal Ascot betting.

Here are ten Henderson-trained horses we think you should follow this season 2024/25:

Bear Market

Formerly trained by Philip Rowley, Bangor P-T-P and Aintree bumper scorer Bear Market is a new edition to the Seven Barrows team.

The Yeats-gelding looks an attractive proposition off those early indicators.

Excello

Touted as the next big thing to come out of Auteuil, Excello’s form went somewhat awry after he landed Ascot’s Graduation Chase.

I suspect the summer break will have done him the world of good and just like Arnie – he’ll be back!

Incisive

Cheltenham Festival winning owner Ronnie Bartlett was on hand to greet his well related debutant Incisive back into the winners' enclosure after the 3m Overton Point-to-Point back in March, and the six-year-old has now been placed with Henderson.

He could well turn out to be a surprise package. 

Jonbon

Apparently Jonbon will be 'staying down the two-mile route' after Nicky Henderson and JP McManus had discussions recently.

The eight-year-old, who won the Grade 1 Melling Chase over two and a half miles last term, will be targeted at the Queen Mother Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

Khrisma

Winner of an AQPS race at Lyon last October, Khrisma has somehow found herself based at Seven Barrows and in the ownership of the mighty JP McManus.

She’s an interesting little sort and appears to possess plenty of pace. 

Kientzheim

Another AQPS purchase from France, and another shrewd pick up by JP McManus, Kientzheim could well be a name tripping off the tongue in this coming season.

It’s easy to see why they think she’s a good prospect if you watch her racing here.

Minella Premier

Minella Premier, a point-to-point winner in Ireland, has been described by Henderson as a "gorgeous individual who we’re very much looking forward to".

He was sold by John Nallen, the man behind the Minella stables responsible for former Gold Cup winner Minella Indo and Grand National hero Minella Times, so you’d like to think he’ll be making an impact this term.

Sir Gino

Purchased by Marie Donnelly after making a winning start on debut at Auteuil, the four-year-old was impressive on his UK debut when winning by 14 lengths at Kempton.

After slamming Burdett Road in the Grade 2 Finesse Juvenile Hurdle at Cheltenham last January, Sir Gino was made odds on for the Triumph Hurdle but sadly never made it there.

However he did return in the Grade 1 Anniversary 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle at Aintree, which he won with relative ease. He’ll be winning many more races this season, mark my words.

Sutherland 

Flemensfirth-gelding Sutherland isn’t a horse that immediately springs to mind when you begin to draw up a list of potential Henderson winners this year, but he may well turn out to be an ace in the pack.

Forget his one and only run in a Punchestown bumper, his lineage will come into play soon enough.

Tradecraft

Tradecraft will go novice hurdling this time around after being very competitive in two classy bumpers at Ascot and Kempton.

The five-year-old gelding could be absolutely anything going forward.

*Credit for all of the photos in this article belongs to Adobe*

The Melbourne Cup is set to take place at Flemington on Tuesday, November 5, with post time scheduled for 04:00 GMT.

Known as ‘the race that stops a nation’, the race draws a crowd of thousands and in recent times has attracted a strong overseas contingent.

Let’s take a look at some of the leading lights in this year’s renewal:

Understandably heading the betting market at odds of 6/1 is this year’s St Leger winner Jan Brueghel.

His debut win came by 8L in a Curragh maiden in May, before three more victories - two in Group Three company before the latest seeing him land the St Leger to crown himself a Classic winner.

With Ryan Moore booked to ride the colt, I can see the price this son of Galileo tumbling as we get closer to the race.

Willie Mullins is hoping a changed preparation will aid Vauban (7/1) in this year’s Melbourne Cup. 

The six-year-old was sent off the 9/2 favourite for last year’s renewal but could only finish well down the field in 14th place.

Vauban heads down under off the back of a victory in the Lonsdale Stakes at York and finishing second to Kyprios in the Irish St Leger. This form is top notch and he holds an outstanding chance.

Mullins has another ace up his sleeve too with Absurde (12/1). Last year the former Ebor Handicap winner finished seventh, beaten just over five lengths, at Flemington Park.

Since coming home he enjoyed a thrilling success in the County Hurdle at Cheltenham and got back to winning ways on the Flat in a Listed affair at Chester.

Adaptability is his strong point and he looks a lively each-way proposition.

There is plenty of home interest around Point King (16/1). Top jockey Jamie Kah and Point King combined to win the Archer Stakes in mid-September, which meant the horse was exempt from the ballot for the Cup.

Kah will be sporting the famous navy blue and white armbands that belong to record Cup-winning owner Lloyd Williams, who has lifted the trophy on seven previous occasions, most recently in 2020.

Those of you searching for the elusive longshot may want to consider the homesters, rather than the prominent European raiders.

Although Eliyass (20/1) suffered his first Australian defeat in four starts, trainer Gai Waterhouse was thrilled with his effort to finish third in the recent Turnbull Stakes. 

Waterhouse said the Melbourne Cup was Eliyass’ main aim and she was pleased he had secured a start.

Australian Bloodstock are very excited about the chances of their horse Sayedaty Sadaty (40/1) who was purchased after his fifth-place finish in the Derby at Epsom, when he was seven-and-a-half lengths behind City Of Troy, which followed two runner-up finishes at Listed level earlier in the season.

Beaten just four lengths in the Gordon Stakes by Jan Brueghel, this son of Anodin is every inch a stayer and will be running on through beaten horses in the dying embers of this Australian feature.

Suggested bet: Sayedaty Sadaty (E/W)

*Credit for the main photo belongs to Adobe*

Willie Mullins commenced training in 1988 having worked as assistant to both his father Paddy and to Jim Bolger.

A former six time amateur champion in Ireland, his personal greatest riding moments were winning the 1983 Aintree Foxhunters on Atha Cliath and the 1996 Cheltenham Champion Bumper on Wither or Which.

As a trainer Willie has won just about every major prize in Ireland, most of the big ones in the UK and several in France as well for good measure. Annually you will always find his horses quoted in the Grand National betting. 

Willie has been the Champion NH trainer in Ireland for the last seventeen years and he has won the title eighteen times in total, as well as winning the British trainers championship for the first time in 2023/24.

He is undoubtedly the dominant force in jumps racing right now and choosing just 10 Mullins horses to follow is no easy task. However, we've had a go - keep this bunch onside for the 2024/2025 season.

Ballyburn

Last season's Gallagher Novices' Hurdle winner switches to fences this season and he looks like a horse that will be dining at the top table in that sphere.

The Turners Novices' Chase over two-and-a-half miles at the Cheltenham Festival would've been highly likely to be his main target but for the recent changes made to the meeting.

Dancing City

Dancing City is all set for a switch to the bigger obstacles this season and we will probably see his name crop up on many occasions.

The seven-year-old captured three Group One’s at Leopardstown, Aintree, and Punchestown last year so there’s certainly more to come from him.

Fact To File

The JP McManus-owned seven-year-old notched up three victories on the bounce last term including the Grade 1 Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase.

It’s easy to understand why he’s vying for favouritism already for the 2025 Cheltenham Gold Cup. Check out our latest horse racing betting here.

Jasmin De Vaux

Willie Mullins brought up a century of winners at The Cheltenham Festival when Jasmin De Vaux won the Grade One Weatherbys Champion Bumper last March and that horse should be bring him further successes this season.

The chances of this horse running at the Festival are high so check out his antepost odds.

Lossiemouth

We priced up Lossiemouth at 6/1 in our betting to win the 2025 Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival after her victory in the Mares' Hurdle last March and it will come as a big surprise if she isn’t in the starting line up.

She’s definitely a horse to include in your Cheltenham Festival antepost portfolio.

Kiss Will

Standing at the Haras De Cercy stud in France, the stallion Tunis has attracted plenty of attention with the first of his three-year-olds selling for €280,000 to Willie Mullins at the 2023 Arc sale.

Kiss Will finished second in a Fontainebleau bumper to subsequent Grade 1 bumper runner-up Kaleo Jim and he will be an interesting recruit this season.

Maughreen

Maughreen suffered a late setback just before the Champion Bumper last season but she will be back firing on all cylinders when we see her race next.

Winner of a Mares Flat Race at Punchestown by an astonishing 11 lengths, the five-year-old is set to go over the smaller obstacles this season.

Mirazur West

Rated 138 over hurdles, Mirazur West won two of his four starts over hurdles including a Grade 2 novice hurdle at Fairyhouse in March.

He looks a lovely novice chaser in the making for the forthcoming season.

Readin Tommy Wrong

A 148-rated hurdler, Readin Tommy Wrong won two of his three starts over hurdles including the Lawlor’s Of Naas Novice Hurdle at Naas last January.

He was pulled up in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival but will be a formidable opponent again on his return.

Willy De Houelle

Recruited out of France for Mullins on behalf of Rich Ricci, Willy De Houelle won on debut at Compiegne by four lengths before finishing second in a Listed race at Auteuil.

He has the Triumph Hurdle written all over him.

*Credit for all of the photos in this article belongs to Adobe*

NFL Picks Straight Up Week 6

• Both the Kansas City Chiefs and Minnesota Vikings remain perfect through five games.

• Week 6 sees the Miami Dolphins, Los Angeles Rams, Chiefs, and Vikings go on byes. 

• Las Vegas Raiders receiver Davante Adams looks to be primed for a trade away.

The NFL was filled with explosive results in Week 5, including the Baltimore Ravens putting up 41 points to edge the Cincinnati Bengals in overtime and the Houston Texans ousting the Buffalo Bills 23-20. 

Following a narrow win for the Jacksonville Jaguars over their divisional rivals, there isn’t a winless team in the league. At the other end of the standings, the Chiefs and Vikings remain perfect with 5-0 records.

This week, with free tickets up for grabs to the Jags-Bears game in London, these are the NFL Week 6 picks and odds.

Jacksonville Jaguars at Chicago Bears

After a rather haphazard entry into the league, this year’s first overall selection has found his feet, making the most of one of the softer phases of the Chicago Bears’ schedule. 

Caleb Williams has recorded a QB Rating of 106.6 and 126.2 in his last two games, throwing for a combined 461 yards and three touchdowns. In this span, he’s only been sacked four times. 

In his best showing as a pro so far, Williams guided the Bears to a 36-10 win over the Carolina Panthers, getting Chicago to 3-2 but not out of the basement of the intensely competitive NFC North.

• Jason Bell NFL Prediction

The Jacksonville Jaguars finally shrugged off the zero on their 2024 record, edging a close game with the Indianapolis Colts to come away with a 37-34 win at home. 

Trevor Lawrence stepped up in a big way to throw for 371 yards and two touchdowns, but the star of the show was Tank Bigsby, who tore off 101 yards and two touchdowns from 13 carries.

Now, the Jaguars travel to the very familiar grounds of Great Britain to face a buzzing Bears side. In 11 trips to London since 2013, the Jags have secured six wins, including on three of the last four visits.

With Williams flying and the Jaguars defence allowing the joint-third most yards per passing attempt and ten TDs through the air already, the Week 6 pick here goes to Williams beating the over for passing yards and securing over 1.5 passing touchdowns.

Pittsburgh Steelers at Las Vegas Raiders

The Las Vegas Raiders have the capacity to cause an upset this season – as shown by their Week 2 win against the Baltimore Ravens – and yet, the 18-34 loss to the Denver Broncos’ vaunted defence seems to be a better reflection of where the team is right now.

Gardner Minshew was benched after throwing two interceptions, 137 yards, and a touchdown, with Aidan O’Connell coming in for 20 attempts – ten of which connected, one of which was picked. 

Hurting the Raiders is their lacklustre backfield. With Ameer Abdullah and Alexander Mattison struggling to burst away from the line of scrimmage, defences are daring the QBs to throw, and now, their top receiver wants out. 

The Pittsburgh Steelers have been slow and steady while trying to work out how best to run the offence. Justin Fields has been asked to play it as safely as possible through the air, leading to only one interception through five games.

His five passing touchdowns can be countered in any praise by his five fumbles when carrying the rock, even if he’s the team’s only scorer on the ground and has collected the second-most rushing yards – behind Najee Harris.

Still, the big selling point of the Pittsburgh Steelers is the defence. The unit has been imperious so far, ranking joint-second in the points against column (73) while nabbing six interceptions and 13 sacks. 

The Raiders look set to start O’Connell against the Steelers, while this looks to be a prove-it game for Fields after back-to-back losses and Russell Wilson waiting on the sidelines. 

Regardless of the QB situations, Pittsburgh’s defence will continue to loom large, so the Week 6 NFL pick goes to the Steelers at -2.5 on the spread and under 36.5 total points. 

Cincinnati Bengals at New York Giants

Entering Week 6 of the 2024 NFL season, the Cincinnati Bengals have been one of the most explosive and high-scoring teams in the league, and yet, they’re at 1-4 to tie the Cleveland Browns at the foot of the AFC North.

All of their losses have been marginal, with the Patriots winning by six, the Chiefs edging them by a point, the Commanders seeing out a five-point lead, and the Ravens most recently taking the day in overtime by three.

Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, and Tee Higgins were excellent, but after an overtime fumble from Lamar Jackson, the staff ordered three rushing plays, gained three yards on a day when the run struggled, and missed the kick.

Last week, the New York Giants showed up in a big way – even without Malik Nabers to move the sticks. Putting Geno Smith on the turf seven times was a big help on the day, as was stopping the run throughout.

On the ground, Tyrone Tracy Jr obliterated the Seattle run defence, averaging 7.17 yards per carry from 18 runs, and even Daniel Jones got in on the action often to claim 38 yards from 11 rushes. 

The biggest play of the game came right at the death. With the Seahawks looking to tie it up with a field goal, Isaiah Simmons vaulted over the line of scrimmage, blocked the kick, and saw it returned for a touchdown.

When it comes down to it, the Bengals are much, much better offensively than the Giants, so even if the defence fails to contribute, Cincinnati should be able to outscore the Giants. 

So, the pick goes to the Bengals at -3.5 on the spread and Tee Higgins to score over 0.5 receiving touchdowns.

*All of our 888 Experts picks and betting tips can be considered as a suggestion only*

*Odds correct at the time of writing - subject to change*

*Credit for all photos in this article belongs to Alamy*