Elliott drives on in Lexus

Another raceday and another Willie Mullins-grabbing-the-headlines with five winners, four at Leopardstown and one at Limerick, but Gordon Elliott took the feature Lexus Chase at Foxrock as well as recording a double at Limerick.

The Elliott-trained Missy Tata completed a five-timer at Limerick today and booked her Cheltenham ticket when landing the Listed Irish Independent Hurdle with Daryl Jacob on board.

Keith Donoghue partnered the other Elliott winner at the Munster track when Stone Hard won a beginners' chase with the jockey making a dash to Dublin to partner Fine Rightly for trainer Stuart Crawford in the Lexus Chase.

Elliott's Outlander won the Lexus and gave young jockey Jack Kennedy the 100th winner of his career.

'It was touch and go whether he ran here or went to Tramore (on Sunday), and with the ground drying out we decided to come here,' said Elliott in a post-race interview.

Jockey Robbie Power opened his account for the Christmas Festival when partnering the Jessica Harrington-trained Thirsty Work to victory in the Irish Daily Star Christmas Novice Handicap Hurdle.

Barry Geraghty was also on the mark in the McManus colours when Bleu Et Rouge (6/4 favourite) won the Ballymaloe Foods Beginners Chase at Leopardstown - one of the Mullins winners.