GORDON Elliott continued his blistering start to the new National Hunt season with a treble at Downpatrick. The incessant rain during the evening led to two going changes, but the Co Meath trainer’s horses powered through the sodden turf to give him five winners in the north in a week.

Ibsen started the ball rolling in the extended two and a quarter mile maiden hurdle. On his first start for Elliott, the six-year-old travelled well for Kevin Sexton and was pushed along to lead after the last. He came up the hill four lengths to the good and justified 11/8 favouritism (from 10/3 in the morning). He hadn’t been seen on a racecourse for 341 days.