Elliott enjoys a first with Felix

GORDON ELLIOTT, below, put one over on his biggest rival in the training ranks — Willie Mullins — at Punchestown yesterday.

Elliott landed the Grade Two Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle with Felix Desjy to break Mullins’ stranglehold on the Grade 2 contest.

Mullins had won seven of the last 10 runnings of the contest, whereas Elliott was picking up the race for the first time.

Felix Desjy had been a big disappointment since winning on his hurdles debut at Galway in October, but he bounced back to form with a dominant display here.

It was a dream spare ride for Sean Flanagan, who took over from Davy Russell after the latter took a heavy fall in the first race on the card.

Felix Desjy soon established a clear lead and was never headed, coming home five lengths clear of Jetez.

Mullins’ two contenders were well beaten off with

9-2 shot Harrie a further

13 lengths back in third and Buildmeupbuttercup, the 9-4 favourite, only fifth.

Aidan Anthony Howard is a name to note after he saddled the winner of Grade Three novice chase on the card, Winter Escape for leading owner JP McManus. Ridden by the ever dependable Mark Walsh, Winter Escape, who had won three decent hurdle races for Alan King before crossing the Irish Sea to join Howard this season. He showed his battling qualities when beating hot favourite A Plus Tard.

It was the eight-year-old’s second success at this level after his victory in a Grade Three novice chase at Cork under Walsh back in November. Felix Desjy was cut from 40-1 to 20-1 for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival by Paddy Power. Winter Escape was quoted at 20-1 by Paddy Power for the JLT Novices’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival in March.