CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL NEWS: ELLIOTT THRILLED TO WIN NAMED AFTER HIS MENTOR AS BETTER DAYS AHEAD LANDS MARTIN PIPE CONDITIONAL JOCKEYS’ HANDICAP HURDLE
Friday 15th March
Trainer Gordon Elliott was thrilled that his 40th winner at The Cheltenham Festival came in the race named after his mentor Martin Pipe.
Better Days ahead scored by three-quarters of a length in the hands of Danny Gilligan, enjoying his first Festival success, in the concluding Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle.
Gordon Elliott told RacingTV: “I got as big a kick out of that as any winner this week. To win the Martin Pipe race – he is my idol in life. Noel and Valerie Moran of Bective Stud sponsor my yard, are one of my biggest supporters and very good friends. They sponsor Meath football, they are massive people in sport in Meath and to have their first Cheltenham winner is just unbelievable. What they do for the yard is unbelievable. No people deserve it more, they are putting so much money into the game – what they do for me, for Meath football and for everyone, I’m just absolutely delighted. They’ve been so good to me, I’ve been trying to get them a Cheltenham winner and have been hitting the crossbar, they are really going to enjoy this, they are brilliant people.”
He added: “He’s a big chaser, we have minded him for this race, he had a good run at Navan a few months ago, which helped us come straight here for this.”
Summing up the meeting, he said: “I’ve had three winners, 17 or 18 placed horses, so I can’t complain.”
On Gold Cup runner-up Gerri Colombe, he said: “He’s a good horse, it’s only his first season out of novice company so he is one to really look forward to.”
Danny Gilligan said: “I felt like I was everywhere out there, and turning in I still had a bit to do. I knew going out he’d love the ground, and he’s a lovely chaser to look forward to next year. He’s just a bit galloper, and at the back of the last when he met the hill, he found another leg.
“It was very messy down at the start, but I got a nice start and a good position, and I was probably just going a gear faster than I wanted to. I was switching out and switching in, and I got a lovely run up the rail turning in - thankfully it worked out.
“He’s a fine, big horse and he loves that ground. He gallops for fun. I’m over the moon to get a first winner in Cheltenham for the owners, who sponsored me at the start of the season.
“They are massive owners in the yard and I’m sure Gordon would be lost without them.
“It probably hasn’t sunk in yet, but just walking back down there, the buzz is unbelievable. Mam and Dad and all my brothers are here. Meeting them on the way down was extra special.”
5.30pm Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle 2m 4f
1 Better Days Ahead 5-1
2 Waterford Whispers 100-30F
3 Quai De Bourbon 4-1
4 Answer To Kayf 10-1
21 ran
Distances: ¾, 5½
Time: 5m 34.77s
1st winner at The Festival for jockey Danny Gilligan
40th winner at The Festival for trainer Gordon Elliott
1st winner at The Festival for owner Bective Stud
FINAL PRESTBURY CUP STANDINGS
Ireland 18
Great Britain 9
