Wet weather sees Irish Arkle coming into focus for Romeo Coolio

The prospect of testing conditions at Leopardstown on Saturday has Gordon Elliott eyeing a mouthwatering clash with Kopek Des Bordes for Romeo Coolio in the Goffs Irish Arkle Novice Chase.

Unbeaten over three starts over fences, the seven-year-old needed every yard to scoop Grade One honours at the Foxrock venue over the Christmas period, but his assured stamina could prove a bonus if weather forecasts prove correct ahead of the Dublin Racing Festival.

Romeo Coolio also holds an entry for the longer Ladbrokes Novice Chase on day two of the Dublin Racing Festival, where he would lock horns with the equally talented Final Demand, but Elliott said: “To be honest if it keeps raining as it is, there is every chance he will turn up in the two-mile race.

“It’s spilling rain and they’ve given plenty more out in Ireland at the minute so it could be nice and testing.

“It would be a great race against Kopek Des Bordes, but at least then we would find out where we’re going in the future.”