L-R, Gordon Elliott, Brian McConnell, Dr Peter Fitzgerald, Jayne McConnell and Nicola Fitzgerald © Photo Healy Racing
Jumping Jet brought up a double for Gordon Elliott at Downpatrick when surging home to land the featured Randox Ulster National Handicap Steeplechase.
The mare was up in trip to an extended 3m4f, on drying ground, but saw it out really well under Carl Millar. Ask Anything the 11/4 favourite, looked to have the race at his mercy when he was left with an increased lead at the last when stablemate Peaches And Cream fell.
However, he was collared in the final 100 yards as Jumping Jet soared in by a length and a-half at 5/1. Bodhisattva (22/1) completed the placings in third.
Millar said: "Gordon has been absolutely brilliant to me, and has full faith in me and I have full faith in him.
"He has always said to me to put my head down, work hard and graft. He has shown me nothing but honesty.
"It means a lot and it is brilliant to get it. Garry Cribbin my agent has been a big help. I'm riding nice horses for good lads.
"The race panned out probably just the way I liked it. I rode her cold for a mile and gave her every chance. Luckily, it paid off."
Elliott added: "It is great to win it.
"Big thanks to Brian and Jayne McConnell, they are with me since before I got a trainer's licence, training point-to-pointers.
"It is great for Carl to win a big race like that. he wasted to do 10 stone and it made the difference.
"I thought the ground was too quick for her, but I said I'd roll the dice because it was a big race. She stayed going very well."
Elliott also won the opening maiden hurdle through Valsorpresa ridden by title-chasing Jack Kennedy.
