Three for Gordon Elliott at Downpatrick

The new National Hunt season may only be a week old, but already Gordon Elliott is leading the way, although he has to share the podium with Ellemarie Holden who has had an amazing start with four winners from five runners since the season kicked-off on Monday last (1st May).

Last evening at Downpatrick Elliott was the man to follow with three winners, all partnered by recently-crowned champion amateur rider Jamie Codd.

Penny Jane completed Elliott's three-timer in the bumper while the Summerhill man was also on the mark with Codd in earlier races with Westland Row and Presenting Julio.

Elliott had three winners and a second at Downpatrick and he also had two seconds at Cork where to Dalouga (bumper) and Delta Work (maiden hurdle) were narrowly edged out at the Munster venue.

Elliott's runner-up at Downpatrick was eclipsed by the Noel Meade-trained Fly Rory Fly which got his head in front in the final furlong for Sean Flanagan at the expense of Polymath.

None of the Elliott-trained winners were owned by Gigginstown.

It was left to trainer Tony Martin to fly the Meath flag at the Cork venue where he was on the mark with the Ruby Walsh-partnered Prince Charmin in a handicap hurdle. It was Martin's first winner of the new season and he also had a runner-up finisher at Downpatrick.