Defi Bleu completes a double for Elliott in bumper

Defi Bleu landed the odds with a dour staying performance in the REA T & J Gavigan Estate Agents Flat Race at Navan.

The son of Saddler Maker was runner-up to Flemenshill on his only point-to-point start at Oldtown back in February, and the winner was subsequently sold at Cheltenham for a whopping 480,000.

Defi Bleu was never far from the pace, and Lisa O’Neill sent the 4/5 favourite to the front about two furlongs from home.

The Gordon Elliott-trained gelding asserted at the furlong pole and was driven out to beat Calicojack by four lengths, with the pace-setting I Am Sailing a further length and a half back in third.

The remaining six runners were well strung out in the straight on this testing ground.

Elliott was completing a double having earlier won the Grade 3 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Klairon Davis Novice Chase with Tombstone

Elliott's assistant Ian 'Busty' Amond said, “He's a fine big horse. He stays going well and that's what you want today.

“Lisa said he didn't do a whole lot in front but he's won well at the end and he's a nice horse to look forward to.”

(GC & AM)