Gordon Elliott enjoyed another remarkable day at Navan, featuring The Yellow Clay's dominant performance in the Grade 3 John Lynch Carpets & Flooring Monksfield Novice Hurdle.
Having finished an excellent sixth in the Grade 1 Champion Bumper at the Cheltenham Festival in March, The Yellow Clay created a taking impression when making a successful hurdling debut at Down Royal last month and unsurprisingly, he was sent off the 8/11 favourite to take the step back up to Grade 3 company in his stride.
Paul Townend set out to make the running on the Willie Mullins-trained Where's My Jet, with both The Yellow Clay and Fleur In The Park keeping a watchful eye on the front-runner. Fleur In The Park appeared to be travelling kindly approaching the penultimate hurdle but after a kick shake of the reins by Jack Kennedy, The Yellow Clay quickened up nicely to strike the front.
Where's My Jet rallied to regain the second spot up the run-in, but the bird had flown when it came to the winner, who cleared right away to score by an impressive ten lengths, giving Gordon Elliott his sixth success of the weekend at his home course.
"He's a nice horse and has always done everything well at home. I loved the way when he made the mistake at the second-last, he (Kennedy) squeezed him, and he let him back on to the bridle," Elliott said.
"I'd say he is a nice horse. I thought it was a good performance; he quickened off them. He has a great attitude and a great way of racing; he is so laid-back."
Paddy Power cut the winner to 12/1 (from 16s) for the Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, with Gordon Elliott pinpointing the Grade 1 Lawlor's Of Naas as The Yellow Clay's next target.
Stuzzikini strikes to give Elliott a seventh Troytown triumph
Gordon Elliott's weekend at Navan got even better when Stuzzikini provided his local handler with a seventh victory in the valuable Bar One Racing Troytown Handicap Chase.
Stablemate American Mike was all the rage in the betting and after effortlessly jumping to the front four out, it looked as though money on the 9/4 favourite would prove well-placed. However, when asked to go and win his race, he found little under Jack Kennedy and last season's Grade 2 winner dropped away tamely.
In contrast, Stuzzikini was beginning to hit top gear and with Gavin Brouder – who was standing in for the sidelined Danny Gilligan – in full cry, the pair jumped to the front over the last between Lucid Dreams and Yeah Man. The former attempted to rally up the run-in, but Stuzzikini continued to find out in front and went away for a comfortable four-length success.
"Brilliant! I tipped him up yesterday on television and I said he had a chance," said Elliott.
"I just thought he was a horse that leaves a bit for himself, he is a bit of a monkey. I thought he could have a couple of pounds up his sleeve. Gavin gave him a great ride. Danny was unfortunate, he got a fall.
"In fairness to him (Brouder), I'd say he has won on most of the horses he rides, so we will just keep him riding in the big chases!
"To win seven Troytowns is unbelievable."
Bright start to chasing for Better Days Ahead
With Slade Steel sent off the 1/2 market leader in the Race And Stay Irish EBF Beginners Chase, many would have expected Elliott's winning run to come to an end. However, Better Days Ahead ensured the Gordon Elliott bandwagon would roll on at Navan when he produced a solid round of jumping to get the better of Henry De Bromhead's Supreme Novices' Hurdle winner by a comfortable four lengths.
The Bective Stud-owned six-year-old, who won last year's Martin Pipe at the Cheltenham Festival, was sent off a 2/1 chance on his first start since finishing third in the Grade 1 Channor Real Estate Group Novice Hurdle at Punchestown in May.
A positive Jack Kennedy positioned his mount at the head of affairs from an early outset and although Slade Steel endeavoured to mount a challenge over the final fence, victory never really looked in danger for Better Days Ahead.
Elliott said: "We bought him off Warren Ewing a couple of years ago to be a big chaser. He looks like a chaser. It has been a slow burner to where we are getting with these horses. Noel and Valerie (Moran, Bective Stud) are massive supporters of Cullentra and they have invested a lot of money in racing. They are getting their dividends now.
"Obviously, he is entered in the Drinmore – that might just come a bit too soon. We will look at something probably around Christmas."
Paddy Power trimmed Better Days Ahead to 20/1 (from 25s) for the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase at the Cheltenham Festival in March.
