Elliott and Meade on song on St Stephen's Day

Cullentra trainer Gordon Elliott scored an across the cards five-timer today as he saddled winners in Leopardstown, Limerick and Down Royal, while Noel Meade also sent out three winners.

Elliott and his leading rider Davy Russell struck for a double at Leopardstown where Fil Dor won the Juvenile Hurdle for Caldwell Construction at 1.10 and then 35 minutes later they followed up when The Greek edged out Tony Martin's Beldoprince by a noise to take the Novice Handicap Hurdle for the It Takes Allsorts syndicate.

Fil Dor strengthened his position at the head of field for the Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham in March when scoring at 4/9. The favourite was prominent throughout and, despite a far from fluent jump at the last, stretched right away on the run-in to beat Noel Meade's Lunar Power by seven lengths.

The winner’s stablemate Britzka, who made a mistake two out, was a further two-and-three-quarter lengths back in third.

"He’s a nice horse and we like him. Even walking around the parade ring he’s so relaxed," said Elliott.

“The Dublin Racing Festival would be the obvious place to go with him now and if not then straight to the Triumph. It was a good performance and I’m very happy with him.”

Winning rider Davy Russell was also delighted to pick up the win.

“We were mad about him from day one as a specimen but he never really excited us in his work. He keeps it all for the racecourse.

“He’s like riding a point-to-pointer down to a hurdle, he’s so good to jump. He loves soft ground but showed the last day he can handle it a bit better. He’s very versatile.”

Just over a half hour later Elliott's The Greek just came out on top following a superb finish to win the Novice Handicap Hurdle at Leopardstown.

The 14/1 chance travelled sweetly to challenge at the last, but needed to dig deep to just get the better of Belgoprince by a nose. The pair came close on the run-in but the result was confirmed after a stewards enquiry.

“Davy gave him a great ride. He was headed and he came back. I was worried about the ground today and he’s been unlucky a few times,” said Elliott, while Russell added “he battled tenaciously up the straight. I felt going to the last that I had everything covered but we had to battle hard all the way.”

Elliott's day got off to a perfect start at Down Royal where he secured the first of a double there when Gerri Colombe justified 2/5 odds to win the opening race on the card, the maiden hurdle, and shed his maiden tag.

The former point-to-point winner, who also won the two bumpers he contested, tracked Ailie Rose throughout and moved to the front under Denis O'Regan before the second last.

The Saddle Maker gelding merely had to be pushed out to assert on the run-in to ease home by eight and a half lengths.

Elliott's double was completed when Fakir D'alene (pictured above) won the beginners chase by 32 lengths in the colours of Bective Stud.

The 2/1 favourite had his rivals toiling before the penultimate flight and sauntered in as he pleased.

"He jumps well and had experience from the last day. I think he is going to be a better chaser than a hurdler," said jockey Denis O'Regan.

"Obviously the blinkers helped, they just kept him focused throughout. He's not ungenuine or anything. I thought I was going a good old gallop on him but he wants further. He'll make into a nice three mile handicap chaser."

In between Elliott's double at the Ulster track Noel Meade was also in the winners enclosure as Ben Thomson won the handicap hurdle at odds of 5/1.

The win was jockey Neil Ryan's third winner in a driving finish.

Meade's five-year-old gelding prevailed by a head and a neck at the end of two miles and a furlong. Magic Sea (14/1) and Autumn Crusade (12/1) were beaten into second and third respectively.

"He responded well thank God! In fairness, he stuck his head out for me and got it at the line," said the jockey.

"I'm only starting to get going - I was apprentice to Kevin Prendergast for a couple of years and moved up to Noel's last year and went jumping. I rode my first winner at the Curragh a couple of months back and rode a winner at Navan last weekend so that's my third winner now.

"Noel said to ride my race as I know him well. He wasn't travelling early but he finished it out well."

Meade completed his double when Pinkerton won the bumper at odds of 12/1 to double Ryan's total of winners.

The 12/1 shot challenged between horses in the final furlong and came with a strong run to lead with 100 yards to go.

He won going away by a length and a half from The Flier Begley (3/1). Western Walk (18/1 from 33/1) was another six lengths adrift in third.

"We always thought he would stay, he stayed really well and was only getting going. He picked up well and showed a bit of pace about him. I'm very happy with him," said the thrilled Ryan.

"We were kind of riding him for a bit of luck. He is a horse that we have liked at home and he has done a couple of nice bits of work recently. To ride a double is unreal."

Elliott's five-timer saw him score in the first race at Limerick where Doctor Churchill won the maiden hurdle under jockey Jordan Gainsford.

Gainford fractured his wrist in a 7th November fall at Naas and returned on the son of Mukhadram which was 10/1 this morning and 8/1 on the opening show, before returning 4/1.

In the race Doctor Churchill went clear after the second last and eventually stayed on well to defeat 5/4 favourite Champion Green, which raced keen, by two and a half lengths.

"He had plenty experience and it stood to him against some of them. He made one little mistake but jumped well apart from that and won it well," said Elliott's assistant Ian 'Busty' Amond.

“He's a nice straightforward horse and will pay his way and the owners will have plenty of fun with him. It was good on the day that's in it to get a winner for Jordan.”

Not to be out-done, Meade was also amongs the winners at Limerick where Daly Tiger won on his return to hurdles for the first in three years.

Daly Tiger was produced by jockey Eoin Walsh to lead after the second last and in the end held on top beat Choice Of Words by two and a quarter lengths.