O'Regan bags first Graded winner for Elliott

Denis O'Regan partnered a first Grade 3 winner for trainer Gordon Elliott at Cork today as he steered Mount Ida to win the Kerry Group Irish EBF (Mares) Novice Chase.

O'Regan, who steered Inglis Drever to a famous hat-trick of Stayers Hurdle wins in 2008, was today registering his 27th career winner for Elliott and while the pair had previously combined for Grade B-handicap winners, today had a Grade 3 success with four-and-a-half-lengths winner Mount Ida.

Elliott, earlier successful with Joseph Conrad was at Punchestown and following the race O'Regan stated "she stayed at it well. I felt if she showed up in the same form as the last day, with a good round of jumping, and go forward a bit earlier, she was bound to be competitive.

"She possibly came forward from her run the last day and that run the last day wasn't a bad race. It is lovely to win the race and get the black-type all in one.

"It's great to get a winner for Gordon."