Gordon Elliott was the trainer to follow on day one of the Dublin Racing Festival with Apple’s Jade the highlight of a treble, and the master of Cullentra House kept up the good work at Leopardstown when taking the William Fry Handicap Hurdle with Dallas Des Pictons

The French-bred gelding, a maiden winner last month at Punchestown, appreciated the step up to three miles on his handicap debut and proved really tough here at the business end.

Jack Kennedy, who was aboard two of the Elliott winners yesterday, sent the 7/2 joint favourite to the front off the home turn but Calie Du Mesnil threw down a strong challenge on the run-in.

Dallas Des Pictons really toughed it out in the closing stages and held on gamely to score by a neck. Jimmy Breekie was two lengths back in third with Mon Lino taking fourth.

Elliott said, “I liked the way the way he jumped. From the last to the line, when the other horse came like he was going to beat him, he put his head out and galloped again. He's a nice horse and he's improved every run we've had him.

“He'll be entered in all the handicaps over in Cheltenham and we'll see what happens. To be fair he'd have to improve a lot off that to be better than a handicapper. He's a grand horse and will make a grand big three mile chaser but I'd say that's what he is.”

Ladbrokes quote Dallas Des Pictons at 14/1 (from 25/1) for the Albert Bartlett, and 10/1 (from 14/1) for the Martin Pipe at the Cheltenham Festival.

(GC & AM)