AT the end of a tumultuous year for Gordon Elliott, the resurgent trainer pulled off a singular achievement in an already remarkable career by winning seven of the eight races down for decision in a feat unique to Irish or British racing.

Seven winners

Seven winners on a day is not an unknown phenomenon but at a single meeting it had proved elusive until Elliott’s varied team pulled off that feat last Saturday.

With winners ranging in prices from 1/4 to 40/1 the odds on the seven-timer came in at 37,381/1 at a track that the trainer holds so dear to his heart and one which had previously yielded a 41,277/1 six-timer on Troytown day in 2016. This was a day and an achievement to match any peaks he has thus far scaled.

“It’s been unreal. I felt we had good chances coming here today and I was hoping we could have a few winners but I never imagined this could happen,” reflected Elliott. “It’s a very special day and for it to happen here is great as I love Navan and I think it’s one of the best tracks in the world. For the owners and the staff and everyone involved it’s just amazing. It’s a day we will never forget.”

Commander Of Fleet fits the bill; Conflated saunters away

CENTRE stage went to a back-to-form Commander Of Fleet who shouldered a big weight to victory in the €100,000 Betive Stud Handicap Hurdle over three miles. A runner-up to Minella Indo in the 2019 Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham, the Gigginstown House Stud-owned Grade 1 winner had struggled to recapture such heights since returning from injury.

However, he was showing up well in a Pertemps Qualifier at Punchestown last month when falling two out and backed up that promise under Shane Fitzgerald to make a mockery of his 40/1 starting price.

The seven-year-old tanked through this 23-runner affair and slipped clear of the field after two out before keeping on well to defeat A Great View by two and a quarter lengths.

“He was a very good novice and it looks like he might be on the way back,” stated Elliott. “The Pertemps Qualifer at Leopardstown is an option but he’d be entitled to go down the graded race route after that.”

Conflated improves

Shane Fitzgerald certainly played his part in the day as he was also on board the Gigginstown-owned Conflated in the Grade B Foxrock Handicap Chase. The top-weight and 9/4 favourite made a few errors over the course of this two-and-a-half-mile affair but he seemed to travel better and better as the race wore on and sauntered clear of a discouraged field before the last fence to win by five lengths.

“He’s always been a smart horse I did think he might win the Kerry National in the autumn but he went early on there,” commented the trainer. “We might leave Christmas and prepare him for the Leopardstown Chase at the Dublin Racing Festival.”

Farouk fired up

Davy Russell’s fall in the second meant that he missed out on a couple of winners and these included the Gigginstown House Stud-owned Farouk D’Alene in the two-and-a-half-mile beginners’ chase.

On his first outing since beating Vanillier at Limerick last Christmas, this six-year-old appeared to relish the switch to this discipline. He was always up with the pace for Kevin Sexton and established the outright lead nearing the final fence before getting home by three-quarters of a length from the former Cheltenham bumper second Blue Sari.

“He’s been off a long time and will come on plenty from this. As the ground get softer he will improve and if it got testing for Limerick he could go there for the Grade 1 at Christmas. Otherwise there’s a graded race at Naas next month that could suit,” stated Elliott.

Impressive Ginto is coming of age

GORDON Elliott had never made any secret of the regard in which he holds Ginto (11/8) and the Bective Stud-owned son of Walk In The Park showed just why in the Grade 2 Navan Novice Hurdle.

The five-year-old lined up here as the winner of two of his three career starts but this was the day he showed stellar potential.

Jamie Codd, who was standing in for the injured Davy Russell, got Ginto motoring early in the straight and the response from his partner was impressive. The market leader surged clear of Eric Bloodaxe and maintained an impressive tempo to the line to score by 11 lengths.

“The last day I really liked the way he went from the last to the line and he showed today he is a real galloper and he’s a good horse to go with it,” said the trainer. “He’ll be entered for the Lawlor’s Novice Hurdle at Naas but I’ll speak to Noel and Valerie as we have Hollow Games for that too. I could see him stepping up to Grade 1 level in the spring.”

Riviere flowing

The Bective Stud colours were also carried to victory by Riviere D’Etel in the Grade 3 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Klairon Davis Novice Chase. The Martaline four-year-old was sent off at 1/4 to follow up on her demolition of a Grade 2 field at Punchestown and it was more of the same here albeit in more understated fashion.

The front-runner coasted through the race for Denis O’Regan to defeat Take All by a dozen lengths.

“She jumped well and relaxed very well. Obviously there’s the two-mile Grade 1 at Christmas to think about but we could always skip that and wait for the Irish Arkle. We’ll just see how she comes out of this first,” declared the trainer.

Itswhatunitesus prospects look good

ELLIOTT’S seventh success came in the bumper where Itswhatunitesus (10/11) made a winning debut in the Alymer Stud colours. Jamie Codd’s mount was cruising along towards the head of the field turning for home and asserted to come six lengths clear of Killer Mode. This day of days began in the second division of the Kilberry Pub & Kitchen-sponsored two-and-a-half -mile maiden hurdle where The Goffer, in the colours of Allan Snow, struck under Jody McGarvey. He was going nicely when left in the lead with two to jump and finished out his race to reach the line with eight lengths to spare.

Mullins’ look in

Willie Mullins was the other trainer to get a look in as he won the first division of that maiden hurdle with Whatdeawant (5/4). This Sean and Bernardine Mulryan-owned five-year-old had defeated Ginto in a bumper. Under Danny Mullins, he charged home to win by two and a quarter lengths.