Elliott completes Mayo National hat-trick Gordon Elliott completed a hat-trick of consecutive wins in Ballinrobe’s €100,000 Listed McHale Mayo National Handicap Chase today, as Western Fold (5/1) also provided the trainer and jockey Danny Gilligan with daily doubles. Previous renewals of the race had been won by Aidan O’Brien (in 2016) and Willie Mullins (2022), with Elliott bagging the 2023 race with Tullybeg, while Duffle Coat landed last May’s renewal under today’s rider Gilligan. Today, Western Fold made much of the running and while pressed by runner-up Drumgill at the second-last, held on well for a four lengths win. Gilligan, earlier successful on Elliott’s Winning Smut, reported “Western Fold jumped them into the ground and is just so quick. It probably took him a while to figure it out but he’s starting to put his head to it now. I loved the way he hit the line, and the way he jumped from fence to fence. “He seems to be still progressing as well and that seemed like a step up from Tipperary recently. The nicer ground doesn’t seem an issue and fingers crossed he can progress another little bit. Hopefully I keep the ride on him and I won’t be complaining if I see my name next to him in Galway.” The Galway Plate-winning jockey added “I have a lot of luck here, it’s a lovely track and there is always a great atmosphere and great crowd. They do a fantastic job with the track and ground. “It’s pleasure to come here and I have plenty of luck so I won’t stop coming here for a while.” Quotes from Gary Carson
