With over 100 Grade 1 wins, 41 successes at the Cheltenham Festival, and three Grand National triumphs, Gordon Elliott has enjoyed many a spectacular day at the track. Already this season, he has bagged both the Galway Hurdle and the Galway Plate. However, even by his own high standards, the master of Cullentra House enjoyed a spectacular time of it on Saturday, 18th October.
Those searching for an Elliott-trained winner on Saturday afternoon may have automatically turned to the National Hunt card at Limerick. Elliott was not in attendance at the Greenmount venue. Nor could he be found at the British jumps’ meetings of Stratford or Newton Abbot. To locate the Cheltenham Gold Cup-winning trainer, we needed to turn our attention to the United States.
Lured by the main attraction of the American Grand National, Elliott had taken a squad of six to the New Jersey track of Far Hills. Incredibly, by the close of play, five of those six runners had won, including a spectacular victory in the main event.
Kennedy Hattrick Sets the Ball Rolling
| Race | Runner (SP) | Jockey | Position | Winnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harry E Harris Hurdle | Chortal (23/10) | Jack Kennedy | 1st | £36,000 |
| Maiden Hurdle | We’re Back Again (31/10) | Jack Kennedy | 1st | £33,600 |
| Peapack Hurdle | Emily Love (7/10) | Jack Kennedy | 1st | £48,000 |
| Foxbrook Champion Hurdle | Coutach (17/10) | Danny Gilligan | 1st | £72,000 |
| American Grand National | Zanahiyr (23/10) | Jack Kennedy | 1st | £120,000 |
| American Grand National | Fil Dor (57/10) | Danny Gilligan | 5th | £8,000 |
Elliott landed his first blow in the Harry E Harris Hurdle Stakes, as Chortal cruised to the £36,000 first-place prize. A flop on the Flat for John and Thady Gosden, the son of Golden Horn has proven more suited to a life over hurdles. After breaking his duck in a Maiden Hurdle at Bellewstown, he travelled to the US following a career-best win in a novice event at Perth. Going in the hands of Jack Kennedy, he proved too good for the home team. Briefly headed approaching the last, he knuckled down to pull away and score by three and a half lengths.
Elliott and Kennedy were at it again in the McDynamo Maiden Hurdle Stakes. Having shown some promise for Patrick Griffin, We’re Back Again made his debut for Elliott in this 2m1f contest. Always in touch, he proved a notch above the US hurdlers in the straight, with Kennedy barely moving a muscle as his mount sauntered to a win by just over five lengths.
Sent off at odds of 7/10, Emily Love was fully expected to hand Elliott and Kennedy a hat-trick in the Peapack Hurdle Stakes. Sent straight into the lead by Kennedy, the Mount Nelson filly made a couple of small errors but remained a length clear at the line.
Kennedy was allowed to put his feet up for the Foxbrook Champion Hurdle. However, continued his blitz through the card. Sporting the pale blue silks of Paul Byrne, Coutach arrived on a high following back-to-back wins at Perth and Down Royal. Notably keen throughout, the four-year-old overcame an early error to move into contention three from home. Hitting the front before the last, he powered clear on the run-in to win by a little over four lengths. Four wins from as many runners. Next up, the big one.
Zanahiyr Gets Up Late for Grand National Gold
While Elliott’s four earlier winners scored in straightforward style, the same can’t be said for American Grand National Hurdle Stakes hero, Zanahiyr. Representing Bective Stud, the eight-year-old boasted several impressive efforts on his CV, including a third-place finish behind Constitution Hill in the 2023 Champion Hurdle. He also arrived in form, having won at Galway and Bellewstown in his two most recent outings.
Those positives nearly went out of the window at the second obstacle, when an awkward leap almost sent Kennedy crashing to the New Jersey turf. To his credit, Kennedy kept his cool and allowed his mount to regain his jumping rhythm.
Zanahiyr still sat last with a circuit to go but began to respond as Kennedy became more animated in the saddle. Sweeping around the field off the home bend, he joined Gavin Cromwell’s Ballysax Hank in an all-Irish duel for the line. A length clear inside the final furlong, it looked as though Ballysax Hank would prevail. Kennedy and Zanahiyr had other ideas, conjuring one last surge to get up in the shadow of the post and complete a remarkable five-timer. The only Elliott runner not to win on the day, Fil Dor, followed Zanahiyr home in fifth.
Not the Gold Cup, but a Remarkable Feat Nonetheless
Reflecting on his US raid, Gordon Elliott was keen to put his achievement in perspective:
“Look, it’s not like winning the Gold Cup or the Grand National. Let’s not kid ourselves, but, still, to bring six horses across the world and win with five of them is unbelievable.”
For Elliott, this represented a second American Grand National triumph, following the success of Jury Duty in 2018. Punters placing their faith in the globe-trotting handler were rewarded with a near 203/1 five-timer.