An official attendance of 14,562 returned to the Punchestown festival on Tuesday but no one was happier to be there than Gordon Elliott.
A first festival with crowds since 2019 might have got billed as a likely Willie Mullins benefit but kicked off instead with his great rival defiantly saddling a 21,293/1 four-timer.
It put Elliott only one shy of a landmark 2,000 career winners.
It is an astonishing tally in just a decade and a half since the 44 year-old first took out his licence.
But it also underlines a remarkable rejuvenation of fortunes for Elliott who a year ago spent a behind closed doors Punchestown festival on holiday in the middle of a six-month suspension.
The shadow …
- April 27, 2022
