IT has been an incredible year for Co Meath trainer Gordon Elliott and among those who work at his Cullentra Stables in Longwood is Amy Parsons who finished out of the placings in the EI90 Amateur class at Tyrella last Saturday but was fifth two weeks earlier on her six-year-old Loughehoe Guy mare Quick Step Up.

The combination were warming up for their cross-country round on Saturday when word came over the PA that the Elliott-trained Tiger Roll had won the Randox Health Grand National.

“I just can’t wait to get home, there will be some party!” said former flat jockey Parsons as she headed back to the boxes following yet another clear cross-country round from Quick Step Up who will be upgraded for her next start.

The eagled eyed television viewer might have spotted a very differently attired Parsons at Fairyhouse over Easter. On the Sunday, she led in Laurina after that five-year-old’s win in the Grade 1 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Novice Hurdle Championship Final.

The bay is owned by a good friend of Amy’s, Jared Sullivan, who couldn’t attend the meeting, and is trained for him by none other than Elliott’s great rival in the champion trainers’ title race, Willie Mullins.

The two winners of the EI90 Amateur classes contested by Parsons at Tyrella were Christina Turley and Emma Lappin. From nearby Ballinahinch, Christina only started eventing last year and was scoring for the first time when her 10-year-old bay gelding Anns Bob completed on his dressage score to win at Tyrella 1.

Last Saturday’s winners, Emma Lappin from Comber and Bat Out Of Hell, hadn’t competed under Eventing Ireland rules since Tyrella 4 last April when they finished sixth, having started their 2017 campaign as they did this year with victory at Tyrella 3. Both winners are due to clash at the Corbett family’s estate today.

Bat Out Of Hell, who is a 15-year-old thoroughbred gelding by Anshan, never finished in the first four either on the track or in point-to-points. He was first produced on the eventing scene by the East Antrims’ senior whip and former jockey James Jenkins and his partner Shelley Boyle.

Another ex-racehorse on the mark in Amateur classes this year is the 18-year-old Luso gelding Balcarrig who won an EI100 class at Millstreet 1 under his owner Caroline O’Leary.

This tall grey only ran five times in point-to-points before the plug was pulled on his racing career.

Brianne Stanley introduced him to eventing at the start of the 2010 season and he has proven a far better eventer than racehorse.