Elixir defies 1,372 days layoff with Punchestown win

One-time exciting novice hurdler Elixir D'ainay defied a three-and-a-half year absent to win on reappearance today, landing a gamble in Punchestown's William Hill Lengthen Your Odds Hurdle.

The nine-year-old's previous run was in the 2020 Supreme Novices Hurdle at Cheltenham when, racing second, he was knocked over in mid-air by right-jumping leader and stablemate Asterion Orlonge at the second-last, behind winner Shiskin .

Today - backed on the show from 6/4 to 4/5f, the chesnut displayed all his old enthusiasm under Mark Walsh, who was completing a double, and on the run-in proved too strong for runner-up Whimsy .

Trainer Willie Mullins was completing a treble and afterwards winning owner J.P. McManus's racing manager Frank Berry reported “Willie had him entered in a chase and I'd presume that's the road he'll go down from here.

“It's lovely to get him back and that was a lovely race to find for him. We'll be happy now if the wheels stay on.

“He's a fine big horse and his form was very good around the time he got injured. It's lovely to see him back and credit to all of Willie's team.”

Quotes from Gary Carson