Elliott completes cross-card 'couple'

Media Naranja initiated a Gordon Elliott-trained cross-card opening-races double today, landing Limerick's McDermotts Gala Maiden Hurdle for breeder Davy Russell, jockey Corey McGivern and owners Bective Stud.

Bred by Russell's Whitebarn Farming Ltd, the daughter of Yeats was a winner on career debut at French venue Craon last December and today made virtually all to beat Heather Bear

Twenty minutes after the race concluded, Elliott's By Your Side landed the opening contest at Naas and at Limerick, McGivern reported “Media Naranja is a lovely tough, honest filly and is really progressive. You probably won't see her at her best until she steps up in trip so I made plenty use of her today.

“She is very good to jump and galloped to the line well.

“That's my 11th winner and Gordon (Elliott) has been very good to me and I can't thank him and Bective Stud (Noel and Valerie Moran) enough.”

Media naranja translates in Spanish to 'half an orange' or your other/better half.