11 year-old Death Duty defied the years to take the Hollywoodbets Grand National Trial at Punchestown. Now the Grand National is on the agenda.
Gordon Elliott's Gigginstown gelding is a Grade 1 winner, but had failed to get his head in front since winning the Drinmore at Fairyhouse in December 2017.
Stout chaser Death Duty wasn't disgraced in either the Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown or the Thyestes at Gowran Park on his last two starts, however,
The veteran, ridden by Jack Kennedy, surpassed stablemate Coko Beach rounding the home turn and saw off Champagne Platinum to pass the post with three lengths in hand.
Elliott said: "He did it well and Jack said he got into a lovely rhythm.
"He ran very well at Christmas but made a mistake at the first or second down the back in Gowran and just never got into the race then.
Death Duty rolls back the years in the Grand National Trial @punchestownrace!
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) February 13, 2022
The 11-year-old, who is a Grade One winner over fences and hurdles, records his first victory since 2017 by landing the €90,000 feature for @gelliott_racing and @jackkennedy15 pic.twitter.com/wPaRJQuvYQ
"Jack gave him a beautiful ride today and I'm glad it worked out. He's a long time between drinks, the horse.
"He won two Grade 1's and it's great to see him putting his head down there and galloping to the line."
Paddy Power cut Death Duty to 25-1 from 50-1 for the Grand National at Aintree in April.
On National plans, Elliott added: "We've Cheltenham and Aintree and he'll go to one or the other. He'll be in the Kim Muir, the Ultima and in the English National.
"Seainin Mahon, the girl who led him up, rides him everyday and looks after him like a baby. He's like glass and she does all the work with him, so big credit has to go to her.
"Coko Beach ran a very good race. If we could ever get a really soft ground Grand National, it would be made for him. Considering the weight, he ran very well."
