Gordon Elliott will use amateur Rob James as a handy hack to reduce the weight burden of his horses in open handicaps at the Cheltenham Festival.
James already has a Festival success win to his name on the Elliott-trained Milan Native in the Fulke Walywn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Handicap Chase and can take weight off his rides due to his amateur status.
"We're leaning towards the Pertemps with Sire Du Berlais. He qualified by running in Warwick. He's a few pounds higher in England than in Ireland off 156," said Elliott.
"Rob James is going to ride him and claim 7lb off. That will bring him into the race on a nice racing weight off 11st 5lb.
"We'll use his claim on a few of the higher-weighted horses in Cheltenham. He's had a couple of hundred point to point winners. He'll ride a few of the top weights for us all being well."
Death Duty rolls back the years in the Grand National Trial @punchestownrace!
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) February 13, 2022
The 11-year-old, who is a Grade One winner over fences and hurdles, records his first victory since 2017 by landing the €90,000 feature for @gelliott_racing and @jackkennedy15 pic.twitter.com/wPaRJQuvYQ
Meanwhile, The Cullentra House handler named Death Duty in the Ultima as his best handicapped horse over the four days.
"Probably the best handicapped of all mine is Death Duty in the Ultima. He's down 1lb. Everything else seems to be up 4lb or 6lb. I knew the handicapper has his job to do," he said.
Elliott picked out several other of his hopefuls for special attention.
"Frontal Assault is up 6lb and he'll just get into the Kim Muir. He definitely runs and we're looking forward to running him," he said.
"Top Bandit has done everything right so far. This is going to be his biggest test. He has a nice weight in the County Hurdle (10st 13lb). He seems in good form and we've been training him for the race.
"Buddy Rich has got 11st in the Grand Annual. He's up 6lb off 144. He runs well fresh and the race will suit him."
