Gordon Elliott and Danny Gilligan nail 189-1 St Patrick's Day four-timer - while jockey hit with ten-day ban following dramatic opener

Gordon Elliott might not have had the Cheltenham Festival he had been hoping for, but the irrepressible trainer hit back with six winners on St Patrick's Day, with four of them coming at Down Royal in the hands of Danny Gilligan. 

The first leg of the 189-1 four-timer arrived in the 2m4f novice handicap hurdle, a qualifier for the Albert Bartlett Triple Crown Series at the Punchestown festival, when 9-4 favourite Timmy Tuesday scored by six lengths. 

Cher Tara won the 2m4f handicap hurdle at 7-1 and 3-1 chance Lightkeeper landed the 2m3½f rated novice chase. Sandwiched in between was the victory of Favori De Champdou in the feature 3m2f chase.

The ten-year-old holds an entry in the Randox Grand National and is priced between 66-1 and 100-1 for the Aintree showpiece. 

The Gigginstown gelding was winning for the first time in almost a year and justified 5-6 favouritism in emphatic fashion, coasting seven lengths clear of stablemate Jumping Jet. 

Elliott said: "It's brilliant and I'm delighted for all my staff and owners. Cheltenham was tough, but a lot of the horses ran well and the likes of The Yellow Clay was just unlucky to bump into one. He ran a cracker and we had a few other seconds as well who might have won on another day. It's great to see all the horses run so well today and we’re looking forward to trying to end the season on a high.”

Drama in the opener

There was drama in the opening maiden hurdle when Walk On The Beach, the 4-7 favourite, passed the post in front but was controversially demoted to second in the stewards' room for causing interference on two separate occasions up the home straight. The Gavin Cromwell-trained Glenashling was awarded the race.

The performance of Zuzukel also caught the eye of the stewards. The 80-1 outsider finished eighth, beaten 22 lengths, but they took a dim view of the ride from James Costello and suspended him for ten days for being in breach of rule 212. 

• Watch a replay of the opening maiden hurdle

They noted the explanation of trainer Tony Martin who said the horse was scoped following the race and showed mucus and a grade two bleed. He added that in his view Costello could have made more of an effort between the third- and second-last.

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