The Tide Turns cut to 25-1 for Triumph as Boodles favourite pulls up

Punchestown: Monday

Gordon Elliott moved onto the 97 winner mark for the season, and Cullentra to 128 winners for the campaign, as he landed a double in two of the maiden hurdles at Punchestown.

97 winners in just four months since returning from his suspension is quite an eyewatering figure and the stable momentum shows no sign of abating.

The ex-Sir Mark Prescott-trained The Tide Turns set the ball rolling for Elliott and Jack Kennedy as he recorded a convincing victory in the opening juvenile maiden hurdle.

Anyone hoping to see Boodles favourite Champion Green further advertise his Cheltenham credentials were disappointed as he was pulled up with a slipped saddle at the third flight. From the turn into the straight, The Tide Turns took command and surged clear, doing enough to see off HMS Seahorse by two and three quarter lengths.

The son of Sea The Moon was cut to a general 25-1 shot (from 50s) for the Triumph Hurdle, and Elliott said: "He was professional, jumped well and did everything right. Jack thought he was in front plenty soon enough but you'd have to like the way he did it.

"He's a nice fun horse. He goes on any ground, has won on the all-weather and I'd say he'll mix it over Flat and hurdles for the summer."

Minella Crooner: will miss CheltenhamCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

The double was completed when the consistent Minella Crooner comprehensively outstayed his opponents in the 3m maiden hurdle, stretching away for an 11-length success.

Elliott said: "He's a grand honest horse, he doesn't do anything fancy at home but he's nice. We might go for the Surehaul Novice Hurdle at Clonmel next month. He's a staying chaser in the making."

Family success continues good run for the Doyles

Veteran Thurles trainer Pat Doyle and his daughter Susie teamed up to land the concluding mares' bumper with newcomer Knockanard Lady, who stayed on strongly in the last furlong to see off odds-on favourite Brookline by a length and a quarter.

It was a first winner under rules for Susie Doyle but she is not a rider who lacks experience, having ridden 14 winners in point-to-points, including at Turtulla the previous day.

She said: "I don't ride on the track very often but I'm grateful to the owner John Battersby and the rest of the lads to let me ride her today. She gave me a great spin, she travelled well and quickened up nicely.

Susie Doyle: rode her first winner under rules at PunchestownCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

"She's a very good mare and we've always liked her. It's great to get this after riding a point-to-point winner yesterday."

Another amateur rider landing point-to-point and track winners in consecutive days was Evan Dwan, after he partnered the Sam Curling-trained Bonnie Kellie to an impressive success in the 2m qualified riders handicap hurdle.

Results, replays and analysis

The Front Runner is our latest email newsletter available exclusively to Members' Club Ultimate subscribers. Chris Cook, a four-time Racing Reporter of the Year award winner, provides his take on the day's biggest stories and tips for the upcoming racing every morning from Monday to Friday