The Yellow Clay takes Lawlors of Naas Novice Hurdle for Elliott

Gordon Elliott landed the Grade 1 Lawlors of Naas Novice Hurdle for the fifth time in nine years after a polished display by The Yellow Clay.

With Sam Ewing on board, the eventual winner travelled well throughout and pounced after the last fence and pulled away to win by eight lengths ahead of the second placed Supersundae.

The win was his fourth over hurdles and continues his 100% record over the obstacles and his trainer couldn't hide his delighted after the race, especially considering the heavy ground a day when rain and sleet feel relentlessly.

“Delighted with it,” Elliott told Racing TV.

“I thought he travelled from the halfway through the race to the second last better than he ever travelled in a race. Having a bit of a race the last day in Navan probably learned him a bit. I thought it was a good performance on ground that I was very worried about to be honest,” he said.

Another of Elliott’s horses, Wingmen, went out in front after Danny Gilligan was tasked with setting the pace.

“We wanted a good honest gallop. I told Danny to go out and make it a good honest one and it worked out beautiful because one of Willie’s went out along with us and gave us a bit of company. Sam just sat in third or fourth and took a lead, I thought he got there a bit soon but when you win it’s great,” said Elliott.

The race has often been a good indicator for the Cheltenham Festival and with four races under his belt already, Elliott indicated that although he holds entries at the Dublin Racing Festival, The Yellow Clay may skip Fairyhouse and instead head straight to the Cotswolds.

“He’ll be entered in the DRF in the 2m 6f hurdle, probably in the two mile as well but he’s had four runs now so I’d say we might hold fire now and go straight to Cheltenham,” said Elliott.