The reluctant racehorse wins the first at Cheltenham for Gordon Elliott
What a sensational opening day for Gordon Elliott landing a 1,900-1 treble.
Following on from the earlier victories of Labaik and Apple’s Jade, Gordon Elliott completed a famous Cheltenham treble with Tiger Roll in the JT McNamara National Hunt Chase.
Winner of the Triumph Hurdle over two miles in 2014, the Gigginstown House Stud-owned gelding was sent off at 16-1 for this four-mile test. The seven-year-old was pulling rider Lisa O’Neill’s arms out running down the hill and picked up from the home turn for a ready three-length success. Missed Approach was second ahead of Haymount in third.
“It’s surreal, to be honest,” said O’Neill. “It’s an overwhelming feeling. I was just hoping up the hill that there was nothing there to pass me.
O’Neill’s boss was effusive in his praise for the amateur jockey, who also works in his office. “She’s decent and is an absolute star,” he said. “She pre-trains our horses and does everything for us. She’s an absolute star and I’m delighted for her.”
The day took a very unexpected turn in the opener..
On his first run for the trainer and the new owners at Laytown last September, Labaik refused to race and Elliott was hauled before the stewards to explain.
Today at Cheltenham, Labaik was transformed and stormed to an effortless victory in the Grade 1 Supreme Novices' Hurdle with young jockey Jack Kennedy on board.
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One horse that will be making the trip is the unpredictable Labaik which could win the Supreme Novices Hurdle on Tuesday - if he decides to run as he has refused to start more often than he has started.
Labaik had his first outing for Gordon Elliott at Laytown in 2016 - refused to race.
Labaik was only seen on the track twice prior to that, once at Deuville in a 2014 debut where, as a three-year-old, the grey was unplaced on the all-weather for owner Hamdan Al Maktoum.
Two years elapsed before another trip to the track, this time for Lambourn trainer Owen Burrows, but with jockey Dane O'Neill on board and sent to the start as 5/4 favourite, the five-year-old refused to race at Lingfield.
A trip to the sales was next and for £25,000 a new owner was on board and a trip to Longwood.
After Laytown, Gordon and his team got a win at Punchestown and again at Navan last November and also in a charity race at Leopardstown on the flat.