Death Duty 'a bit sore' after Leopardstown fall Gordon Elliott reports Death Duty to be "a bit sore" following his fall in the Racing Post Novice Chase at Leopardstown. The Shantou gelding won his first three starts over fences, completing his hat-trick in the Grade One Drinmore Novice Chase at Fairyhouse in early December. He dropped in distance for the feature event on the first day of Leopardstown's Christmas Festival and was playing for minor honours behind the impressive Footpad when he crashed out at the final fence. Elliott said: "Death Duty is a bit sore after the fall and we'll see where we go with him. There are no plans." Death Duty's fall was a rare blip during an otherwise fantastic Christmas period for the Elliott team, with the trainer saddling 17 winners between St Stephen's Day and New Year's Day. Notable winners included Apple's Jade in the Christmas Hurdle, Shattered Love in the Neville Hotels Novice Chase and Mick Jazz, who was a shock winner of the Ryanair Hurdle after Faugheen was pulled up. "Apple's Jade goes straight to Cheltenham for the mares' race," Elliott told At The Races. "We'll have to keep Shattered Love in Grade Ones. You couldn't knock her performance - she jumped, stayed and galloped. "Mick Jazz will get an entry in the Irish Champion Hurdle and the English one. If he can nick a bit of prize-money that would be great, but the long-term plan is to go to America."
