NOT for the first time trainer Gordon Elliott has brought about huge improvement in a horse that he acquired for a mere pittance. Combining with Aidan O’Ryan, the pair paid £10,000 at last year’s Goffs UK Spring Sale for the then nine-year-old Dr Massini (Sadler’s Wells) gelding Doctor Phoenix.

The gelding originally won a point-to-point at Curraheen for his breeder John O’Donovan and two weeks later was sold for £40,000 to Favourites Racing and sent into training with David Dennis.