Punchestown winner in first for Gordon Elliott

Gordon Elliott landed the opening race on the card at Punchestown today

The valuable Grade 3 contest over two-and-a-half miles was won impressively for the Summerhill man by the Jack Kennedy-partnered Black Tears.

Black Tears won at Leopardstown 12 months ago and that run was followed by another outing at Punchestown ahead of a second-place finish in the Coral Cup at last year's Cheltenham Festival.

The Mares' Hurdle on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival is the next target.