Silver Turns To Gold For Elliott

Gordon Elliott may be struggling for a winner in Ireland, but the 29-year-old struck on arguably the biggest stage of all when saddling Silver Birch to victory in the John Smith's Grand National at Aintree.

The County Meath handler ? the youngest trainer in the race ? has yet to produce a winner in his native land, but took his tally away from home to four as Robbie Power sailed home on the 33-1 shot to plunder the #700,000 first prize.

McKelvey (12-1) was staying on strongly at the finish, but Elliott's 10-year-old had plenty in the locker and collected by three-quarters of a length.

Slim Pickings, also sent off at 33-1 and who had looked every inch the winner crossing the Melling Road, was a further length and a quarter away in third, with the first three 15 lengths clear of 100-1 chance Philson Run.

Power held his mount up in touch for the first circuit, but moved closer at the Canal Turn second time round and was chasing Barry Geraghty on Slim Pickings approaching the second-last.

His mount ? who won the Becher Chase and Welsh National for Paul Nicholls in 2004 and was favourite for this race in 2005 only to be sidelined through injury - took a definite advantage over the last and strongly galloped round The Elbow to hold the staying-on McKelvey.

Thirteen of the 40 starters completed the course, but only after the start was delayed by almost 10 minutes as the runners jostled for position at the tape.

Owner Brian Walsh picked up the winner from the Doncaster Sales last May for just 20,000 guineas and sent him to Elliott, who produced him to finish second in the cross-country chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

Elliott explained: 'We got the horse from the sales and we've tried to sweeten him up by hunting him.

'He had a leg injury when we got him, but everything has gone according to plan since.

'He's improved the whole time I've had him and he would have won the last time at Cheltenham but the weight beat him.

'I thought he was better than he was going to Cheltenham and so did Robbie. If he had been in the first five or six we would have been delighted.

'We thought he would run a good race, but this is a dream come true.'

Elliot was himself a successful point-to-point and amateur rider, boasting 50 wins in the saddle, and took out his training licence just a year ago, having been based with Martin Pipe in his riding days.

He has a team of 30 horses and added: 'Mr Pipe has always been good to me. In fact he was the first to come across and congratulate me.

'When I was with Mr Pipe I was jocked up to ride in the National twice, but never made it to the track, so to win it as a trainer is a dream.'

Power, who took the 2003 Midlands National on Jessica Harrington's Intelligent, said: 'Unbelievable. What a ride I got the whole way round.

'He jumped and travelled great. Gordon picked him up for nothing and he looks a bargain now.'

There was a small sting in the tail for Power as he picked up a four-day ban (April 25-28) for using his whip with excessive frequency and in the wrong place.

It was a case of so near, but yet so far for McKelvey and Slim Pickings, who were edged out in an epic finish.

McKelvey's trainer Peter Bowen said: 'That felt brilliant, until we got beat.

'The horse injured himself, that is why he drifted across the track down the straight.

'He'll be fine, he'll just need a bit of time off.

'I have been second in the Gold Cup with Take The Stand and second in the National now ? I suppose someone has to get beat.'

Slim Pickings' trainer Tom Taaffe did not actually make Aintree after suffering travelling difficulties in Ireland.

'Put it this way, I won't be using that tour company again!' he joked.

'He gave everyone a super time. He jumped for fun and was almost running too well for his own good.

'I won the Gold Cup with my first runner in Kicking King and I've now had a third from my first National runner, so you certainly won't hear me complaining.'

Geraghty was hit with a three-day ban for using the whip with excessive force (April 25 to 27).

Nick Williams was understandably delighted with fourth-placed Philson Run, a 100-1 shot whose best form has been on a softer surface.

He said: 'I'm thrilled to bits. We thought he could run a good race as the ground was perfect for him.

'He will be turned out for the season now and the plan will be to come back next year.'

(C) PA Sport