Emma Gilligan seen to good effect on The Goffer

Emma Gilligan got her tactics exactly right on The Goffer in the Up The Yard Challenge Race at Punchestown.

This race gave stable staff the opportunity to ride a race at a Grade 1 venue and The Goffer hit the line first at 7/2 for trainer Gordon Elliott.

Gilligan is from Mullingar and works for Elliott. She scraped the paint on The Goffer and was still fully ninth inside the final three furlongs.

The duo made their move with a quarter of a mile to travel and swept through to lead approaching the final furlong.

The Goffer was in mood to relent and soon kicked for home. His stable companion, Samui with Shauna Knowles up, attempted to chase him down, but The Goffer kept on strongly to see it out by five lengths.

Runner-up Samui was also a 7/2 chance and was two and a-half lengths in front of Wee Charlie and Gary Regan (25/1).

Jockey Carl Millar led the winner back in.

Gilligan used former jockey Lisa O'Neill's saddle for this challenge race. O'Neill is now an assistant trainer in Elliott's yard in addition to her broadcasting duties.

Elliott said: “Emma has been with me for years. She is a great girl and is one of our barn managers.

“It’s a brilliant race for the staff and they all work very hard.

“The Goffer will go for the Ultima at Cheltenham. She didn’t panic and gave him a great spin.”

Additional reporting by Alan Magee