Elliott completes Punchestown double

Trainer Gordon Elliott completed a double at Punchestown today as his Fire In His Eyes (13/8) landed the Coral.ie Bet 5 Get 20 In Bets Maiden Hurdle, winning for owner Gigginstown House Stud and jockey David Mullins.

Mullins, who won last season’s Grand National on Rule The World, was at work on Fire In His Eyes throughout most of the final half mile as the son of Stowaway seemed out paced with three flights to jump. However Mullins’ mount responded well for pressure and in the end improved past 11/10 favourite and leader Bosco Di Alco from the final fight before scoring a length and a half success over that rival.

Elliott, earlier successful with the Mikey Fogarty ridden Zanjabeel in the opener, later commented “he’s a big, honest horse who jumps and stays. He’s a big chaser in the making, and didn’t mind the ground.”

By Tom Weekes, quotes from Alan Magee