“My other horses got balloted out of the race so I had to run something!” quipped trainer Gordon Elliott at Punchestown today, as his Sermandzarak caused a minor upset to win the €100,000 Goffs Defender Bumper.

Sermandzarak had previously been promoted to winner of a course-and-distance February bumper as nine-lengths winner Colcannon weighted in 1.3lb light, and today reappeared under rider Harry Swan as previous jockey John Gleeson opted to ride unplaced Garahon

In today's event, Sermandzarak raced prominently, led three furlongs out and finished well to defeat runner-up Yeshil by 1.25 lengths.

Elliott later revealed “we were humming and hawing during the week whether to run him as he's after growing that much, but all the rest of my horses got balloted out of the race so I had to run something!

“He's after growing an awful lot since he won the bumper the last day - when he didn't actually win as he finished second. He's a big weak horse that's getting stronger the whole time.”

He added “he's a nice horse but is a horse for next year and that's him finished for the season. He jumps well, he's a big jumping horse and not really a bumper horse. This is nice to win and is a great pot.”

Quotes from Gary Carson