Elliott enjoys 1,000th winner as a trainer as Moonday Sun strikes

Gordon Elliott achieved a landmark success as he recorded the 1,000th winner of his training career when Moonday Sun won at Punchestown on Wednesday evening.

The Grand National and Cheltenham Gold Cup-winning trainer was on hand to greet the Davy Russell-ridden winner, expressing his delight at the achievement.

Elliott overjoyed

"That's my 1,000th winner between Flat and jumps overall. It's obviously great to do it and we're delighted," Elliott said after welcoming back the 14-1 shot. "The girls in the office are there to remind me of these things!"

The winner, having his second start for the Meath-based trainer, shares a profile similar to so many of the horses Elliott has enjoyed success with, finding improvement for him after transferring from Britain.

"They went very fast in front and got tired. He loved the ground and will go jumping a fence soon enough," he added of Moonday Sun.

Elliott lost out narrowly to Willie Mullins in a thrilling battle for last season's trainers' championship that went down to the final day at Punchestown.

At the end of the first month of the new campaign, the perennial champion leads the challenger, with Paddy Power quoting odds of 1-5 about Mullins retaining the title and 7-2 about Elliott securing what would be his first.