Two legends back in the winner's enclosure

Popular stayer Pallasator made a winning start for Gordon Elliott in the John Shortt Legends Challenge Race at Punchestown on Thursday.

It was a fantastic result all round as well-backed 13/8 favourite Pallasator well and truly stamped his class on the charity race run over a mile and three quarters, cruising home by eight and a half lengths and more from former Gr. 1 Triumph Hurdle winner Tiger Roll and triple Gr. 2-winning hurdler Monksland.

Ridden by 'Stormin' Norman Williamson winner of the Cheltenham Gold Cup and Champion Hurdle in 1995 Pallasator was always going sweetly and found plenty when asked by his jockey over a furlong out. It was great to see the 8-year-old seemingly enjoying himself on the racecourse.

While Pallasator might be known for his pre-race antics, often giving his jockey plenty to think about on the way to the start, he has been a star for Qatar Racing and his former trainer Sir Mark Prescott down the years, successful in both the Gr. 2 Doncaster Cup in 2015 and Gr. 3 Henry II Stakes in 2016.

Pallasator was actually on his best behaviour in the preliminaries on this occasion, and we're very much looking forward to seeing him jumping hurdles for Gordon Elliott, who said after the race: "Pallasator jumps very well and is one to look forward to and if he keeps behaving... I'm sure Sheikh Fahad will be riding him in the future!"

The Legends Challenge Race was run in aid of John Shortt's family. John, who died aged 53 this year, was a hugely popular National Hunt rider who rode around 400 winners, including Space Trucker in the 1996 Fighting Fifth Hurdle. He also became a jockeys' agent for the likes of Conor O'Dwyer (who both trained and rode a runner in this year's race) and Charlie Swan. Norman Williamson said: "John was a great pal of mine and when I went to England in 1989 he took me under his wing."