Elliott completes Down Royal treble

Gordon Elliott completed an excellent afternoon's work when his Moonshine Lad secured a treble, including a win in the featured Champion Chase, for the Grand National winning trainer in the concluding Daily Mirror Bumper at Down Royal.

The winner, bought last April for GBP85,000 after winning a Lingstown point to point for trainer Denis Murphy, stayed on well in the straight under Stephen Clements for a four and a half lengths win over newcomer The Herds Garden

Afterwards Elliott said “having three winners and a second today is brilliant! He's (Moonshine Lad) a big chaser in the making but we might look at a winners' bumper at Christmas and that'll be him for the year (season). It was a good race today.”

Jockey Clements added “he's a lovely horse for the future and will improve a lot and is very straightforward.”

Elliott's earlier wins were with Time To Work in a handicap hurdle and Roi Du Mee in the Grade 1 Champion Chase while Toner D'Oudairies also finished second, in the Grade 2 Novice Chase.

By Thomas Weekes, quotes from Michael Graham.