Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
Sport
Robert Hynes

Gordon Elliott lands 270,962/1 weekend seven-timer at Fairyhouse

Gordon Elliott landed a 270,962/1 seven-timer across Saturday and Sunday's cards at Fairyhouse as he went further ahead of Willie Mullins in the trainers' championship.

The Meath trainer's horses are in sensational form as he followed Saturday's treble up with a four-timer on Sunday at one of his local tracks.

Doctor Bravo landed the Willie Elliott Memorial (Pro/Am) I.N.H. Flat Race, named after the trainer's late uncle, in a poignant win for Elliott on Saturday.

READ MORE: Honeysuckle suffers first ever defeat as Teahupoo wins Hatton's Grace at Fairyhouse

The 15/2 shot's victory under John Gleeson came after earlier wins for Minella Crooner (2/1) in a 2m 5f beginners chase and Landrake (7/1) in the 2m 4f novice hurdle.

But few could have envisaged just how better things would get for Elliott on Sunday as Punitive (9/2) led home a 1-2 for the trainer in the 3m 5f Porterstown Handicap Chase before Irish Point (18/1) was just beaten a neck by Marine Nationale in the Royal Bond.

The trainer didn't have to wait long to return to the winners enclosure though as Mighty Potter (3/1) impressed in winning the Drinmore before Teahupoo (20/1) pulled off one of the shocks of the season so far by beating Honeysuckle and Klassical Dream in the Hatton's Grace.

Elliott wasn't done there though as £350,000 purchase Better Days Ahead (15/8) won the final race of the day, a two-mile bumper, beating odds-on favourite Chapeau De Soleil by three and a quarter lengths.

But it was Teahupoo's victory that was the major talking point from the weekend as the five-year-old had been comprehensively beaten by Honeysuckle at both Cheltenham and Punchestown last term, but Elliott felt conditions may have been against his charge on those occasions, with Fairyhouse’s soft ground a much better fit.

He said: “He was very good last year on soft ground and we ran him on good ground a couple of times which was probably a mistake but we are still learning about the horse.

“Jack gave him a wonderful ride. He let it all happen in front of him and there is only one winning post.

“It’s been a brilliant day with two Grade Ones and we were only beaten a head for three.”

Teahupoo’s owner Brian Acheson admitted to mixed feelings in victory.

He said: “That was unexpected. I came here wanting Honey to keep winning and if we finished second, that was brilliant.

“We have such a close association with Kenny (Alexander, Honeysuckle’s owner) and Henry.

“I’m genuinely in shock. I thought the mare was unbeatable – it will hit me tonight.

“There is a ting of sadness that the run is ended. I just hope she comes back and beats Constitution Hill (at Cheltenham)!”

Honeysuckle is now an 8-1 shot with Coral to rack up a third Champion Hurdle win at Cheltenham in March, with Nicky Henderson’s Constitution Hill cut to 2-7 from 4-7 for the Festival highlight.

Betfair offer 5-1 about Honeysuckle’s chance in the Mares’ Hurdle, a race she won in 2020.

Elliott's seven winners:

Saturday

Doctor Bravo 15/2

Minella Crooner (2/1)

Landrake (7/1)

Sunday

Punitive (9/2)

Mighty Potter (3/1)

Teahupoo (20/1)

Better Days Ahead (15/8)

READ NEXT:

Get the latest sports headlines straight to your inbox by signing up for free email alerts

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.