Elliott gets new year off to winning start Having ended 2025 in red-hot form, trainer Gordon Elliott landed the first race of the new year when Stede Bonnet won the opening David Flynn Construction Maiden Hurdle at Tramore. Sent off 10/3 under Danny Gilligan, the Agardsley Investments Limited-owned five-year-old led or disputed alongside market leader Arslan throughout. Pushed along on the inner after the penultimate flight, the Elliott-trained gelding appeared to be in trouble but found plenty for Gilligan, going on at the final flight before pulling four-and-three-quarter lengths clear on the run-in. Ian 'Busty' Amond, stable representative, said: "He ran well in Ayr the last day. Danny knew he'd stay going well, so he was good and positive on him. He jumped well and he's a grand horse. "We had a good end to last year and a good start to this one, so hopefully it stays going." Additional reporting by Donal Murphy.
