Gerri Colombe: Profile, Record, Age & Best Races

The Gordon Elliott-trained gelding is one of Ireland's leading staying chasers, but success at the Cheltenham Festival has proven elusive as he finished second in both 2023 and 2024.

The most recent of those losses coming at the hands of Galopin Des Champs in the Gold Cup.

Name: Gerri Colombe

Age: 9

Weight: 11-10

Trainer: Gordon Elliott

Winnings: £412,727

Cheltenham Festival wins: 0

Gerri Colombe race stats

Runs	1st	2nd	3rd
14	10	3	1

Gerri Colombe Age

Gerri Colombe is a nine-year-old gelding who made his debut under Rules as a five-year-old at Fairyhouse in January 2021.

Gerri Colombe Weight

Gerri Colombe has raced exclusively in Grade 1 company over his last five starts, running off 11-10 on each occasion.

Gerri Colombe Record

Gerri Colombe made his first appearance under Rules when landing a Fairyhouse bumper by 24 lengths in January 2021 and he followed up with a win at Naas in February before making his hurdles bow at Down Royal in December, once more impressing with a clearcut success.

After stepping up to 2m4f to win a Thurles novice hurdle in January 2022, connections opted to put him away for the season with a chasing career in mind.

The next phase of his career began with a pleasing win in a Fairyhouse beginners contest in November 2022 before a victory in the Grade 1 Faugheen Novice Chase at Limerick over the Christmas period.

Gerri Colombe began 2023 with a visit to Sandown, winning the Scilly Isles Novices' Chase in February, before a first trip to Cheltenham ended in defeat as he narrowly failed to collar The Real Whacker in the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase.  

At Aintree the following month, he won the Mildmay Novices' Chase over 3m1f, signing off a first season over fences that yielded three Grade 1 wins. 

Gerri Colombe stepped out in open graded company for the first time on his seasonal return at Down Royal and delivered immediately under Jack Kennedy, staying on powerfully to beat Envoi Allen in the Down Royal Champion Chase.

All roads led to Leopardstown and a Christmas meeting with reigning Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Galopin Des Champs and it was the Willie Mullins superstar who prevailed, powering clear to beat Gerri Colombe by 23 lengths.

Ireland's top two stayers renewed their rivalry up the Cheltenham hill in March 2024, although the result was the same as the Galopin Des Champs triumphed by three-and-a-half lengths.

Gerri Colombe signed off the 2023/24 National Hunt season back at Aintree where, this time under Kennedy, he battled to victory over Ahoy Senor in the Aintree Bowl.

The Elliott inmate returned for the 2024/25 season in disappointing fashion, finishing third behind Envoi Allen at Down Royal as the 8/11 favourite, before connections ruled him out for the rest of the season.  

Gerri Colombe Next Race

Gerri Colombe has been ruled out for the rest of the 2025 season.

If he is able to return for the start of the 2025/26 season, connections may well opt to run in the Down Royal Champion Chase in November, where he has made his reappearance in each of the last two years.

Gerri Colombe Owner and Cost

Owners Robcour snapped up Gerri Colombe for £240,000 after his point-to-point win at Lingstown in March 2020.

Robcour, fronted by Irish businessman Brian Acheson, own a number of prominent National Hunt horses, including 2024 Stayers' Hurdle hero Teahupoo and Slade Steel, who triumphed in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle the same year.

Gerri Colombe Trainer

Gerri Colombe is trained by leading Irish trainer Gordon Elliott.

Gerri Colombe Official Rating

Gerri Colombe has an official HRI rating of 170, which he achieved after his victory in the 2024 Aintree Bowl.

He remained on the same mark following his third-placed finish behind Envoi Allen at Down Royal in November.

His rating puts him level with Fastorslow as Ireland's second-best chaser, behind only Galopin Des Champs, who has a rating of 177.

Gerri Colombe Prize Money

Gerri Colombe has earned a total prize money figure of £625,897 in his career so far and his career winnings total stands at £412,727.

Gerri Colombe News

Gerri Colombe will not run at the 2024 Cheltenham Festival after he was ruled out for the rest of the season following a setback.

In a statement, trainer Elliott said: "It’s not career-ending or especially serious, but it’s come at the wrong time of the season, so we’re going to have to rule him out of the spring festivals."

Gerri Colombe is likely to return to action next season with the Down Royal Champion Chase in November an obvious target.