Gordon Elliott was refusing to get carried away by talk of a first trainers' title despite making history after claiming all three Grade One winners on the big pre-Christmas card at Fairyhouse.

The Cullentra handler has made rapid progress in the last couple of years to become a dominant force both in Ireland and Britain, thanks in no small port to the increased support of leading owners Gigginstown House Stud following their well-publicised split with Willie Mullins in 2016.

Elliott led this year's Irish title race by almost 300,000 euro heading into day two of the Winter Festival in County Meath and stretched further clear by becoming the first man to land Royal Bond Novice Hurdle, the Hatton's Grace and the Drinmore Novice Chase on the same day.

Elliott said: "This is what it's all about. To train three Grade One winners in one day is unbelievable, it's something you dream about."

Despite enjoying an incredible afternoon, Elliott is taking nothing for granted, with memories of last year's title race - when he looked home and dry heading into the Punchestown Festival only to be denied by a late Mullins charge - still fresh in his mind.

"Willie Mullins is an amazing man and just to be in the parade ring with someone like him is great. He's a man I look up to and idolise and it's nice to beat him an odd time," Elliott added.

"Last year was heartbreaking. You get so far with all the press and all the hype and then get beat with two days to go.

"I was gutted to get beat, but just to get that close was something special and just to be in the same sentence as Willie Mullins, I'm happy with that."

Mengli Khan (evens favourite) further enhanced his growing reputation with an impressive victory in the Bar One Racing Royal Bond under Jack Kennedy and is the general 7-1 favourite for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

Elliott said: "He could be a better horse on better ground and is a two-miler which we don't have too many of. Gigginstown buy big three-mile chasers, but it's nice to have a few of them as well.

"We will probably have a look at something over Christmas, but we'll get him home after today and make sure he's in one piece."

Kennedy swiftly doubled up as Apple's Jade produced a brilliant front-running display to successfully defend her crown in the Hatton's Grace Hurdle.

The even-money favourite was nine lengths too good for eight-time Grade One winner Nichols Canyon and is the 7-4 favourite to win the OLBG Mares' Hurdle at Cheltenham for the second time.

Elliott said: " She's only five years of age and she's six Grade Ones won. She's a different mare at home this than she was last year.

"We will give her a bit of a break now and she might go back to Punchestown for the race she got beaten in last year (Quevega Mares Hurdle in February).

"The Mares' Hurdle (at Cheltenham) is the plan and then Punchestown (Festival). If we mind her we might get a few years out of her."

Death Duty (8-11 favourite) completed the Elliott and Gigginstown top-level hat-trick by extending his unbeaten record over fences to three with an all-the-way success in the Drinmore under Davy Russell.

"He's a horse I've always liked, but maybe I was getting it wrong last year saying he wanted three miles. He could be more a JLT (Novices' Chase) horse," said Elliott.

Gavin Cromwell's Espoir D'Allen (8-13 favourite) impressed in the Bar One Racing Juvenile Hurdle, while the burden of top-weight did not stop Pat Kelly's Cheltenham hero Presenting Percy (7-2 joint-favourite) dominating his rivals in the Porterstown Handicap Chase.

Quote of the day

Gigginstown and Ryanair supremo Michael O'Leary enjoyed a fantastic afternoon with three Grade One winners, but had a warning for ante-post punters regarding the much-vaunted Samcro. He said: "The hype with Samcro is rubbish. He's not the next coming of Jesus Christ."

Performance of the day

Apple's Jade secured her sixth top-level success with an awesome display in the Hatton's Grace and judged on this performance she is better than ever.

Ride of the day

Rachael Blackmore gave further evidence of her considerable talents in the saddle by guiding the talented but tricky Davids Charm to a lucrative victory in the two-mile handicap hurdle.