It has been a frustrating Festival for Gordon Elliott after a string of placed horses but he finally bagged his 41st career Festival winner when Wodhooh (9-2) came home the winner of the concluding Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle. The five-year-old scored by four and a quarter lengths under Danny Gilligan.

Gordon Elliott said: “I’m just thrilled. We’ve had a rough week, but I’m absolutely delighted. This has been the plan - we waited to come here, so it’s worked out great. A lot of my friends own her, so it’s brilliant. The crowd have given me a cheer in after what’s been a tough week. It just didn’t happen for us, didn’t bounce for us, but we keep smiling.”

He went on to say: “She’s owned by a lot of good friends of mine. There are going to be great celebrations here in the ring. This is special. We’ve had a real tough week, all the horses have run well. To finish the week off like this, to win the Martin Pipe – he’s my hero. I just want to thank all my staff, all my owners, who have stuck by me.”

Danny Gilligan said: “It’s probably been a long week for Gordon; hit the crossbar plenty of times and I’m sure it’s a massive relief for him to get one on the board. A big thanks to him and all his owners, they’ve given me a lot of big chances this week and I can’t thank them enough.

“I won on her here in December. Since then, it’s been the plan to come here. Gordon told me going out, ‘Ride her with plenty of balls’. I didn’t think I would be in front as soon as I was, thankfully she stayed galloping all the way to the line.

“I sat about half-way and just tried to hold onto her as long as I could, turning in I got after her a small bit and she just picked up so easily and got me to the front. Then I was just hoping from the last to the line, that something wouldn’t come and nab me. But thankfully, she stayed galloping the whole way up the hill.”

Asked if he thinks this is a mare we will see in graded company, Gilligan said: “Definitely. I think she’s getting better with every run, and she’s unbeaten. So she’s well entitled to step up into graded company.

“It’s been a tough week for a lot of people. Poor old Sam has probably come out the worst of it. Jack is sore, but he’s been able to warrior on. It’s been a tough week for a lot of people. It’s been a great week for me, I’ve had the chance in plenty of the big races and had two winners, it’s class. I can’t thank the people who are giving me chances enough. I think a lot of people in the weighing room would be able to do the same job as me, but I’m just so grateful for the opportunities I’m getting. It’s brilliant to be able to take them when they come.”

Gordon Elliott – 41 Festival wins
Danny Gilligan – 3 Festival wins