Six of the best for Gordon Elliott at Punchestown
Death Duty just one of the stars for the trainer on an action-packed afternoon.
Gordon Elliott dominated proceedings on a high-class card at Punchestown, winning six of the eight races.
The Cullentra maestro got the afternoon off to a flyer as the high-class Pallasator won the John Shortt Legends Challenge Race in the hands of Norman Williamson.
Smart bumper performer Samcro justified 1-5 favouritism on his hurdling debut and Ben Dundee (13-8 favourite) obliged in the Punchestown November Festival Handicap Hurdle, before Grade One-winning hurdler Death Duty (4-9 favourite) brought up the four-timer when winning for second time over fences in the Buck House Novice Chase.
Elliott rounded off the day by winning the concluding two races with King’s Song (3-1 favourite) and Felix Desjy (11-8 favourite).
He said: “It’s a great day. Any day you have one winner is great so to have that many winners, I can’t believe it.
“We were having breakfast this morning and Simon (McGonagle) my head man, Mouse (O’Ryan) and Tom Howley said they were doing a Lucky 63. Four of us did it. It only cost 63 quid and we all got a few quid out of it.”
Death Duty is favourite with some bookmakers for the RSA Chase at the Cheltenham Festival following his impressive Grade Three success in the hands of Davy Russell.
“I’ve always thought the world of this horse. Last year I was of the opinion he probably wanted three miles, but I’d say I might have been wrong, to be honest,” said Elliott.
“I’d say he’ll go for the Drinmore (at Fairyhouse) now and I’d say he’ll go straight there.”
Samcro was even more dominant in the Buy Your 2018 Annual Badge Maiden Hurdle, maintaining his unbeaten record with a 15-length verdict under Jack Kennedy.
He is a best-priced 7-1 favourite for the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham next March.
Elliott said: “We’ll have to look at something like the Royal Bond at Fairyhouse.”
Death Duty, Samcro and Felix Desjy were among four winners on the card for Gigginstown House Stud, with Noel Meade’s Cheltenham Festival hero Road To Respect making a successful reappearance in the feature Irish Daily Star Chase.
The six-year-old won the Brown Advisory & Merriebelle Stable Plate at Prestbury Park in March before claiming the scalp of Yorkhill in the Ryanair Gold Cup at Fairyhouse
The 7-2 chance responded to Sean Flanagan’s urgings to get up and beat the game front-runner Kilcarry Bridge by a length and a half. Last season’s Cheltenham Gold Cup runner-up Minella Rocco was only fourth.
Meade also saddled the other winner not trained by Elliott in the shape of Lex Talionis, who was a 12-1 victor in the Go Racing In Kildare Handicap Hurdle.
Performance of the day
It was a day of strong performances, but it was hard not to be blown away by Samcro in the maiden hurdle. There is a glint in Gordon Elliott’s eye when talking about this three-time bumper winner and he looks sure to go to the top of the novice hurdling ranks this season.
Ride of the day
It may have ended in defeat, but Danny Mullins put in a brilliant effort aboard Kilcarry Bridge in the feature event of the afternoon.
Quote of the day
As well as saddling six winners, Gordon Elliott and a few associates fleeced the bookmakers. Elliott said: “We were having breakfast this morning and Simon (McGonagle) my head man, Mouse (O’Ryan) and Tom Howley said they were doing a Lucky 63. Four of us did it. It only cost 63 quid and we all got a few quid out of it.”
