Gordon Elliott continues to set a strong pace at the head of the Trainers’ Championship and the Gold Cup and Grand National winning trainer registered a 1-2 in the O'Driscoll O'Neil Supporting Kill GAA Maiden Hurdle at Naas today, as his Midnight Escape beat stablemate Cracking Smart

Winner Midnight Escape was ridden to his length and three parts success by former dual Champion Jockey Davy Russell, beating French import Cracking Smart.

Elliott, who led Willie Mullins by E246,000 at the start of today’s racing, later stated “he’ll (Midnight Escape) be a nice horse for next year and is a chaser in the making. We’re happy enough and it’s job done and we’ll try and find something small for him next; then that’ll be it until next year.

“The second horse (Cracking Smart) ran alright too and he’ll come back for a bumper.”

By Tom Weekes, quotes from Gary Carson