Elliott lands four-timer on opening day at Punchestown

The opening day of the Punchestown today was certainly one to remember for Cullentra trainer Gordon Elliott as he saddled four of the five winners on the cards with Willie Mullins claiming the Champion Chase with Energumene.

Energumene's success in the feature was expected as the 4/7 favourite had eight and a half lengths to spare over stablemate Chacun Pour Soi with Rachael Blackmore on board Henry DeBromhead's Envoi Allen six lengths further back in third.

The only local interest was Elliott's Andy Dufresne which didn't make it beyond the first. However, that disappointing display was in stark contrast to the rest of the meeting for Elliott as he won every other race.

The day got off to a dream start for the Summerhill man when Party Central, in the colours of Noel and Valerie Moran in Bective Stud, landed the novice hurdle under Davy Russell.

Party Central, seventh in the mares' novice hurdle at Cheltenham last month, improved from behind the leaders to lead jumping the last and eventually defeated front-runner Instit by a length and a quarter.

"She loves that ground and Davy gave her a great ride. He said he was happy the whole way, the one thing you don't want to do is get to the front too soon as she idles," remarked Elliott after the race.

“The plan was to be upsides at the last but as soon as she got to the front she pulled up. She did it here before one day.

“It's a great start to the week and great for Noel and Valerie. We haven't discussed going chasing yet but I can't see why she won't jump a fence.

"She's a nice mare and I'd say ground is a big key to her, she just doesn't like real depths of winter heavy ground. On the heavy sand at home she's not impressive but when you get her on a nicer surface she's good,” said Elliott.

Mighty Potter stunned Mullins' 4/7 favourite Sir Gerhard when he scored at 20/1 to win the Grade 1 Bective Stud Champion Novice Hurdle.

Mullins ran Ballymore Hurdle winner Sir Gerhard against stablemate and Cheltenham faller Dysart Dynamo (13/8) in the five-runner race, with Elliott's pair Mighty Potter and Vina Ardanza (66/1), joined by another outsider Gatsby Grey (100/1).

The race proved to be a banker for the bookies, as winning jockey Jack Kennedy provided a riding masterclass on Mighty Potter, who had Sir Gerhard in a pocket with half a mile to race and then took the inside rail as free-going leader Dysart Dynamo faded.

Mighty Potter was clear when blundering the last but, on the run-in, held Gatsby Grey by four lengths. Sir Gerhard weakened for third while Dysart Dynamo finished tailed off.

“It's brilliant to win the first two races. I know it's not going to be smooth sailing all week and when Willie gets going it will probably be like a steam train!” said Elliott.

“I'm very lucky with all the support I have in the yard and being honest, I thought Party Central was my best chance of the day. I was humming and hawing whether I'd run this horse (Mighty Potter) - we walked the track a couple of times and said we'd take our chance.

“I thought Jack gave him a beautiful ride, he held his position the whole way. The horse is a chaser for the future and we're very happy.

“He did the splits and was lame for a few days after Cheltenham, nothing seriously wrong with him but he just wasn't right and came home very light. That was great and he'll going chasing next year," predicted the trainer.

Elliott's quickfire treble was landed in the third race on the card when Felix Desjy landed odds of 11/1 to take the Grade B Killashee Hotel Handicap Hurdle.

This time last year Elliott was lying on a beach in Portugal as he had his license suspended, but today he admitted he was much happier to be in Punchestown rather than back in Portugal as he unsaddled Jack Kennedy off Felix Desjy.

The former Grade 1 winner was produced from rear to lead in the closing stages, defeating Farout by three parts of a length.

“That's brilliant, the horses are running well and we're absolutely delighted," said Elliott.

“He has been difficult but we've done a lot of work with him, doing different things at home lately. We decided on the last couple of runs to drop him in and Jack gave him a wonderful ride the last day (at Fairyhouse).

“When we pulled him out the last day he got too much light and stopped so he said he'd wait until late to pull him out today. You could never drop him in before but you can now, he nearly likes not getting a run and you have to ride him for a bit of luck.

“We'll have a bit of fun with him now and I'd imagine he'll probably go for the Galway Hurdle.”

Elliott's day was completed when Absolute Notions won the bumper with six lengths to spare ahead of Miss Agusta, with Noel Meade's Nucky Johnson in third and John McConnell's Jumping Susie in fourth with Elliott's 3/1 favourite Caldwell Potter in eighth.

Elliott's four-timer moves him onto 1,999 career winners and he will hope to pass the 2,000 milestone later in the Festival.