Elliott and Johnson take five

Gordon Elliott sealed the 2018 leading trainers’ title at Perth yesterday when teaming up with Richard Johnson for a 95-1 five-timer with Dinons, Creadan Grae, Global Jackpot, Cubamania and Jaunty Thor.

The pair also enjoyed a fivetimer at the track on 17 August and Johnson said: “It took me 25 years to ride my first fivetimer so I never thought I’d have another one about a month later!

“Gordon is a lovely man to ride for as his horses are so fit and he puts them in the right races.”

Dinons, sent off at 1-7, earned himself a trip to Cheltenham by extending his winning sequence to four when making all to score by 23-lengths in the 3m novices’ hurdle. Elliott said: “He did it well again and will go for a staying novice race at Cheltenham next month.”

Creadan Grae, runner-up over hurdles at Perth earlier in the month, returned to fences with a vengeance when slamming Fiddlers Bow by three and three-quarter lengths in the Lord Mansfield Memorial Handicap Chase.

Elliott said: “He’s been threatening to do what he did but things just weren’t happening for him. I thought Richard gave him a great ride.”

Global Jackpot completed a hat-trick and followed up a recent course distance success in the 2m novices’ hurdle.

Cubamania completed Elliott and Johnson’s domination when pipping Cresswell Legend by a head in the novices’ chase.

Elliott said: “He’s a decent horse but I wouldn’t say he is one of the stars of the yard. I would imagine he could make a decent summer jumps horse as that’s when he would get his ground. I might even go back on the Flat with him as he’s well-handicapped on 53.”