Winning spree continues for Gordon Elliott on Ayr raid

Just 24 hours after winning all four graded races on the card at Fairyhouse, Gordon Elliott made the journey to Ayr on Monday and saddled a treble.

Champion jockey Sean Bowen was on all three of the Cullentra runners, and also won the opening 2026 Ayr Racecourse Memberships Now Available Novices’ Handicap Chase on Wholly Boley (12-1) for Daragh Bourke.

Elliott, who watched his Romeo Coolio win the Grade One Drinmore Novices’ Chase on Sunday, has clearly got his string in rude health.

His first winner was Truckers Cruising (9-4 favourite) in the Ayr Racecourse Racing Club Only £50 Handicap Chase, who looked to have plenty in hand when winning by six lengths.

Then King Gris (4-11 favourite) arguably won even easier in the second division of the Festive Dining At Western House Hotel Handicap Hurdle, despite the margin being two lengths.

“I don’t know if you can say that (he was well handicapped), he’s only won by two lengths,” said Elliott.

“It was nip and tuck going to the last but he won which is the most important thing.

“When you have Sean Bowen on your side it’s a big advantage and it’s job done. I didn’t see it but Sean got unshipped after the line, so I’ll be giving him a bit of stick!”

King Gris was having his first outing for Elliott after three runs under rules for Patrick Morris, earning a rating of 77.

“I’ve not sure I’ve ever had one rated as low as him, to be honest,” said Elliott on Racing TV.

“Hopefully he can win a couple of race. He’s got a good attitude, he’s a low-grade horse in a low-grade race.”

Elliott and Bowen then won the concluding bumper with Broadway Ted (9-4) in the manner of a useful horse.

The only loser for Elliott on the day was Stede Bonnet who had no answer to the Nicky Richards-trained Upon Tweed (1-4 favourite) who looked a very nice prospect for the Greystoke handler in the Western House Hotel Vouchers For Christmas Novices’ Hurdle.

He took his unbeaten record to three and Richards said: “That was just another learning curve for him, it was satisfactory, they weren’t going a great pace in that ground.

“You could see a far better jumping performance if they’d gone a better pace, he’s got gears to burn this lad.

“We’ll let the dust settle and see how he is and take it from there.”