Day two treble for Gordon Elliott

Last year's leading trainer Gordon Elliott got off the mark in the opening race on day two of the Cheltenham Festival.

The short-priced Samcro with Jack Kennedy on board was sent off the 8/11 favourite for the opening Ballymore Novices' Hurdle and duly obliged.

Samcro made it seven in-a-row on the track since winning a bumper in 2016 and jockey Kennedy moved into contention on the final bend and went on to win from Vision Des Flos with Next Destination and Ruby Walsh in third.

"It's a big team effort from everyone, but there was a lot of pressure, for Jack, for me - for everyone, the whole team, I'm delighted, it's brilliant," stated the trainer who added two more to his tally when when Tiger Roll won the Cross Country Chase and Veneer Of Charm took the Fred Winter Juvenile Hurdle.