Elliott enjoys Tiger’s feat
(186) A Balding 8 10-0 (D3) ...... Joshua Bryan (5) (235) R Hannon 4 9-7 ............................. L Dettori (199)CFellowes99-7(CD2) ................ SDonohoe (178) R Varian 6 9-6 (D) ........................ A Atzeni (24) K Burke 4 9-6 (BF, D2) ............................ C Lee (3) (24) R Fahey 5 9-4 (D2) ..................... P Hanagan (27) M Johnston 4 9-4 (D) .......... P J McDonald (262) G Peckham 4 9-3 (D3) ................. H Bentley (18) B Meehan 5 9-3 (D5) ............................ ........................................................... Adam J McNamara (3) (24) R Eddery 7 9-1 (D2) ......................... J Crowley (169) H Palmer 4 9-0 (D) .................... James Doyle (206) P Cole 4 8-13 (CD) ......................... R L Moore (53) G L Moore 6 8-13 (D2) ..................... S W Kelly (262) W Jarvis 4 8-12 (D2) ........... J P Spencer (157) M W Easterby 6 8-11 (D3) ............... S De Sousa (193) R Beckett 5 8-10 (D) ............. O Murphy (24) Miss G Kelleway 4 8-7 (D) ......... Aaron Jones (3) BETTING: 9-2 Inshiraah, 7 Medieval, 8 Medahim, 10 Mjjack, Mazyoun, 12 Juanito Chico, White Lake, Take The Helm, Absolutely So, 14 Others.
9-4 Close up, headway to lead approaching final furlong, quickened clear, comfortable, won at Newmarket 7f fll hcp (2) gs in Jul beating Cartographer by 4 1/2l, 7 ran. 11-2 Mid-division, headway over 2f out, led over 1f out, ran on well, won at Newmarket 7f hcp 0-85 (4) gd in Sep beating Noble Star by 1 3/4l, 10 ran. 17-2 Held up behind, headway towards far side over 2f out, soon ridden to chase leaders, kept on same pace final furlong, 4th of 15, 4l behind Mojito at York 1m 3yo hcp 0-105 (2) gd in Aug. 17-2 Tracked leader, pulled hard early, every chance entering final furlong, kept on same pace closing stages, 4th of 10, 1 1/4l behind Fire Brigade at Leicester 1m hcp 105 (2) gs in Oct. 4-1fav Held up towards rear, headway over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, soon faded, 5th of 10, 7l behind Perfect Pasture at Doncaster 6f Listed stks (1) sft in Mar.
33-1 Raced stand side tracked leader until ridden halfway, soon weakened, 9th of 11, 28l behind Limato at Newmarket 7f Grp 2 (1) gd in Oct. 5-1 Steadied start, held up in last trio, headway towards far side of group over 1f out, kept on into never nearer 4th final 100 yards, 4th of 12, 2 3/4l behind D’bai at Ascot 1m 3yo hcp (2) gs in Jul. 8-1 Tracked leader, ridden to lead entering final 2f, ran on, won at Lingfield 7f app hcp (2) pol in Mar beating Reckless Endeavour by 3/4l, 13 ran.
33-1 Led, went clear over 3f out, ridden over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, weakened towards finish, 6th of 20, 4l behind Lord Glitters at Ascot 1m hcp (2) sft in Oct. 7-2 Tracked leader until ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 6th of 7, 7l behind Mister Music at Southwell 7f hcap (2) fbs in Mar. 16-1 Mid-division centre until merged with far side group over 5f out, weakened 2f out, 11th of 20, 21l behind Addeybb at Doncaster 1m hcp (2) sft in Mar. 33-1 Close up centre group, ridden over 1f out, one pace, 5th of 20, 7l behind High Acclaim at Doncaster 1m hcp (4yo+) (2) sft in Mar. 25-1 Close up, ridden and every chance over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong, 7th of 19, 3 1/2l behind Speculative Bid at Doncaster 7f hcp 105 (2) sft in Nov. 33-1 Held up towards rear centre until merged with far side group, never a factor, 12th of 20, 22l behind Addeybb at Doncaster 1m hcp (2) sft in Mar. 12-1 Towards rear, ridden over 2f out, never near leaders, 8th of 11, 8l behind Zwayyan at Ascot 1m stks 0-90 (3) gs in Oct. 25-1 Led centre group and just about on terms, headed in group over 1f out, weakened final furlong, 13th of 18, 9l behind Makzeem at Newmarket 7f hcp 105 (2) gs in Sep. 33-1 Held up towards rear, headway over 1f out, never on terms, 12th of 14, 5l behind Eljaddaaf at Lingfield 7f hcp (3) pol in Feb. GORDON Elliott promised to appreciate his second Randox Health Grand National success far more than he did his first after Tiger Roll clung on in a thriller at Aintree.
When Silver Birch passed the post in front back in 2007, Elliott was a fresh-faced 29-year-old still making his way as a fledgling trainer. At the time, he had remarkably not even saddled a winner in his native Ireland.
The progress he has made in the 11 years since has been nothing short of astonishing.
In the last five weeks alone the master of Cullentra has taken the top trainer award at the Cheltenham Festival for the second successive year, gone through the 200-winner barrier for the season in Ireland and won his first Irish Grand National with General Principle.
He is long odds-on to be dethrone Willie Mullins and claim his first Irish trainer’s title later this month and while his great rival pushed him all the way on Merseyside, with the boldly-ridden Pleasant Company going down fighting, it was Elliott who won the day once more.
He said: “I was nervous. I thought I had it, but you’re so nervous watching it.
“I said I didn’t appreciate the first time round. I’m definitely going to appreciate it now.”