Gordon Elliott would be forgiven for not thinking about Trainers’ Championships at Down Royal today but he did admit feeling deflated following his recent loss to Willie Mullins, although the win of Elliott's Ballela Boy in the Belfast Live Hurdle put him back on top, on Day One, of this season’s title.

Elliott’s winner, Shan Dun Na Ngall, on this corresponding meeting in 2016 was the spring-board to an amazing but ultimately unsuccessful tilt at the 2016/17 Trainers’ Championship, and Ballela Boy’s win in today's E10,780 first-prize event saw him move to the top of this year’s list.

Ballela Boy’s success, gained under Davy Russell, was leading home a 1-2 for Gigginstown House Stud, over their Bel Ami De Sivola for trainer Noel Meade, and following the race Elliott said: “we said we’d have a kick at the back of the second last (fence) and have one go and thankfully it worked. There wasn't much between the two horses, only a jump, and we are off the mark thank God! He’ll probably go chasing through the summer."

On last season's epic title race Elliott added: "I went for a few pints yesterday evening and it's all back to work again! I had a brilliant year. Of course I was disappointed but just to even get so close to Willie (Mullins) was great. You wouldn't be human if you didn't say you were a bit deflated.

“To level the (record) number of winners on 193 sweetened it up a bit and hpefully we'll keep trying and get there some day.

"To be fair we've had a brilliant bunch of horses and owners and staff. I hope it happens one year, be it this year or in five years. I'll keep trying and keep trying to improve.”

By Tom Weekes, quotes from Michael Graham