Elliott returns with Sligo winner

Gordon Elliott was back in the winners' enclosure today as his Fancy Foundations landed Sligo's Templehouse Lake Chase, on the trainer's second day back following a high-profile suspension.

Elliott's Kruzhlinin was his previous winner on March 6, before suspension, and today Fancy Foundations survived a final fence error to score by four lengths, under Denis O'Regan, who was filling-in for stood-down jockey Bryan Cooper.

Fancy Foundations received a warm reception following the race and Elliott commented “it was nice to get that reception from the people here. I’ve missed them for the last six months as much as they’ve missed me.

“It’s brilliant for my staff. They’ve worked hard. Alicia (McCartan), the girl who led up the horse, is going back to college next week to be a vet, and that was her first time leading up a winner so it’s great.”

Regarding Fancy Foundations, he added “we thought we were coming here with two good chances, with The Sliding Rock (which blundered badly when finishing third) and obviously this lad.

“It was a good performance. He was a bit keen, it was a tactical race but Denis (O’Regan) gave him a good ride and he jumped well. It’s great for Andrew and Gemma Brown who are great supporters of the yard.

“He’s not a real winter heavy ground horse and he’ll probably go for a novice chase at Cheltenham in October.”

Elliott had returned to the races at Punchestown yesterday where his first runner back, flat handicapper Oh Purple Reign was unplaced.

Quotes from Mark Nunan