Elliott on the double at Fairyhouse

Gordon Elliott scored on the double at Fairyhouse today with with Queens Brook and Three Stripe Life on target for the Cullentra trainer.

Queens Brook showed her fondness for Fairyhouse when winning at that venue for the second time in the two and a half mile hurdle.

Just the four runners went to post and the 11/8 joint favourite got away from the last quicker under Jack Kennedy and stayed on to beat the the other 11/8 joint favourite, Ciel De Neige by four lengths.

“She was getting a good weight allowance and we had to take our chance. It wasn't ideal running her back so soon but the race kind of came our way," said Elliott.

“Jack even said there today that she would come on again from it today, she had a good blow. She's a big mare and takes a lot of getting fit. She's very honest, she wants to win.

“We'll probably keep her over hurdles this year and it wouldn't shock me if she ended up in a nice handicap somewhere along the way.

“We'll probably keep her over hurdles this year. Sure it's nearly Christmas now and you wouldn't be running for another three or weeks.”

Cheltenham Champion Bumper fourth Three Stripe Life got off the mark over hurdles with the minimum of fuss.

He was always to the fore in this two miler and tanked along under Davy Russell approaching two out.

He jumped that nicely and readily put daylight between himself and the field before the final flight.

Despite making a mistake there, the 2/13 favourite cruised in by six lengths from Hans Gruber (18/1). Smoke And Mirrors was another three and a quarter lengths back in third at 33/1.

“It's job done and he couldn't do any more than what he did,” said Elliott.

“Davy said he wasn't doing a whole lot in front, he had jumped the last he would probably have sprinted up the straight but he missed it.

“Davy said that ground is as quick as he'd want it so a bit of easier ground will suit him. You'd imagine the Royal Bond is where he'll be going.

“He was fourth at Cheltenham and ran well so he's a nice horse.

“He'll learn plenty there, he ran off the bend and everything, he was green.”

Grand National winning trainer Dermot McLoughlin was also on the mark at his home track as ther Ratoath man saddled Laughing Trix to victory in the handicap chase.

Under the guidance of PJ O'Hanlon Laughing Trix chased the leaders throughout, pecked on landing three out and was pushed along. However, he was ridden hard again after the second last and led on the run-in and stayed on.

“The mare stays well and jumps well. She was unlucky a couple of times to run into one or two over hurdles but she's a nice mare going forward," said McLoughlin.

“She stays and that's half the battle. We fancied her today, we thought the last day when Paddy got off her that she was crying out for a fence and the ground is a big key to her as well.”