Champagne Classic provided Gordon Elliott with a first Grade 1 victory at this year's Punchestown Festival when he landed the Irish Daily Mirror Novice Hurdle on Wednesday.

Owner Michael O'Leary had described Champagne Classic as the worst horse he had in training when winning the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham last month but he will have to revise that assessment.

The six-year-old (at 14/1) took the Grade 1 to increase trainer Gordon Elliott's lead in the championship.

"He's not too bad a horse," said Elliott. "He stays well and jumps well and I think he enjoys this better ground - his best runs have come on it at Cheltenham and here. His future is definitely over fences."

O'Leary added: "That's not bad from the worst horse I have! I'm going to start insulting my horses more as it seems to stimulate them."

Jockey Bryan Cooper added: "Champagne Classic did it well. To be fair, the better ground has definitely brought out the best in him.

"Gordon prepped him really well. He was a good winner at the Cheltenham Festival and has made the step up to Grade 1 company and done it well. He is fantastic horse and to have won a Grade 1 as well as a race at Cheltenham is great placing by Gordon."