Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle

‘I’m a strong man and I won’t lie down’

GORDON Elliott was in tears following the success of Wodhooh in the final race on Friday, the Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle for conditional riders.

It was Elliott’s first winner of the week and the pressure was evident as he spoke to Racing TV immediately after Danny Gilligan had steered the 9/2 chance to a convincing success in the 24-runner contest.

Prior to this win, Elliott had trained 10 placed horses this week, notably Teahupoo, The Yellow Clay and Stellar Story finishing second in Grade 1 events.

It was a second winner of the week for Gilligan, who won the Grand Annual for Cian Collins on Jazzy Matty.

Choked on emotion, Elliott could barely speak: “It’s been a heart-breaking week for all my staff and my owners. It’s been really tough but all the horses have run well. I’m a strong man and I won’t lie down. And to finish the week by winning the Martin Pipe - he’s my hero.”

Wodhooh is a phenomenal mare who is now unbeaten in six starts over hurdles. She was racing off a mark of 140 here and won by four and a half lengths.

She has yet to race on the flat for Elliott, and has a rating of just 72 from her days with Sir Michael Stoute.

She was bought for The Sundowners Partnership for just 50,000gns by Ted Durcan.

Elliott added: “She is owned by a lot of good friends of mine and there will be great celebrations.”

Runner-up was Olly Murphy’s Act Of Authority (28/1) who came from well off the pace and finished a further four and a half lengths ahead of the Henry de Bromhead-trained pair Raglan Road (25/1) and Taponthego (8/1).