In-form Gordon Elliott wins opening contests to follow up Saturday seven-timer

Gordon Elliott made history on Saturday with a 37,382-1 seven-timer at Navan and picked up where he left off on Sunday by winning the first races at Cork and Punchestown, extending his extraordinary sequence of domination to nine races.

Iberique Du Seuil extended Elliott's run to eight consecutive winning races in Ireland when taking the 2m maiden hurdle for three-year-old's at Cork by a head.

And the in-form trainer's unbelievable form continued at Punchestown, where the John Durkan is the feature race later on Sunday afternoon, when Top Bandit claimed the 2m rated novice hurdle under Davy Russell.

Elliott has 18 entries across Sunday at Cork, Punchestown and Kelso, with Weststreet (1.03 Kelso), Party Central (1.25 Punchestown), Motown Maggie (2.10 Kelso) and Keepthefaithinme (3.35 Punchestown) among the shortest-priced runners for the trainer.

His run came to an end when the Henry de Bromhead-trained Largy Debut shocked Kilcruit, trained by Willie Mullins, to win 2m maiden hurdle at Cork.

Ground change at Punchestown

The John Durkan Memorial Chase () at Punchestown is set to be run on yielding to soft ground after a slight overnight frost at the track.

Fresh ground is in use for what is likely to be one of the best chases run anywhere in recent times as seven of the ten runners are rated 161 or higher and the outsider is Grand National hero Minella Times.

Envoi Allen, who promised to be something out of the ordinary in his youth and could still be, heads the betting at 15-8 from the consistent and talented Fakir D'Oudairies (9-4), while Allaho, who produced one of the performances of the 2020-21 campaign when trouncing the Ryanair field, is 4-1.

Punchestown's card also features the debut over fences of Ferny Hollow (), who has been off for more than a year but has some strong form – the only horse to beat dual Grade 1-winner Bob Olinger – and is an exciting prospect for novice chasing.

The going for Punchestown's hurdle and bumper circuit was described as yielding on Sunday morning and a mainly dry day is forecast.

There is a similar outlook at Cork where the feature race is the Kerry Group Hilly Way Chase ().

The going there remains soft despite 5mm of rain since Friday morning, which will not be an issue for the prolific Energumene, who will be a red-hot chance to make it seven wins on the spin in the feature.

British outlook

Sunday racing in Britain does not always stack up well against the offerings in Ireland, but this weekend is different as Huntingdon's best race, the Grade 2 Fitzdares Peterborough Chase (), takes place.

It promises to be a cracker too with Allmankind, Master Tommytucker and First Flow in action.

Conditions at Huntingdon are described as good, good to soft in places, while it is soft at Kelso, whose card is headed by the £50,000 Lilburn Estate Scottish Borders National Handicap Chase ().

Non-runners

Huntingdon
1.17 5 Bembridge
3.27 10 Queen Of The Court

Kelso
12.33 6 Uptown Harry

Punchestown
12.25 3 It Could Be You, 7 Explosive Boy, 11 Macs Charm
12.55 17 Big Shanghai
1.25 3 Ailie Rose
3.35 5 Any Biscuits

Cork
1.45 11 Riviere D'etel
2.20 5 Darasso
2.50 17 Red Striker

Sunday's previews:

2.00 Punchestown: Allaho v Envoi Allen: top analysis and trainer quotes for a John Durkan cracker

2.20 Cork: 'He's doing everything right at home' - exuberant Energumene a class apart

Ferny Hollow and Kilcruit set for eagerly awaited returns on a Sunday to savour

1.52 Huntingdon: 'I'm very excited' - Allmankind team ready to go full throttle in Peterborough

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