Saturday, 21 April 2018: It has been an extraordinary jumps campaign by any measure for Gordon Elliott.

In a season of personal landmarks, he finished leading trainer at the Cheltenham Festival for the first time, sent out more than 200 jumps winners in Ireland and goes into Punchestown with a €500,000 plus lead over Willie Mullins in the trainer's title race.

Trainer - Gordon Elliott

He trains one of the most exciting horses around in Samcro and won his second Grand National last Saturday with the tenacious Tiger Roll.

Elliott won the world's biggest steeplechase at Aintree 12 days after General Principle secured him a first success in the Irish Grand National, which is a rare feat on its own. It was last pulled off by Mouse Morris in 2016 when Rogue Angel won at Fairyhouse and Rule The World at Aintree.

Expert Eye

His only representative in the Coral Scottish Grand National is the Davy Russell-partnered Fagan. The trainer will be attempting to clinch his third National in a month.

Spare a thought for Nicky Henderson who saddles Gold Present at Ayr and is still yet to win any type of National.

One jockey . . .
After Davy Russell, the alternative hero of last Saturday's Grand National was undoubtedly Danny Cook.

Cook was on a live chance at Aintree, riding I Just Know for Sue and Harvey Smith – who won the race with Auroras Encore – but after starting brightly to lead the race, the partnership came to grief at Becher's Brook first time around.

The jockey's involvement in the race didn't end there as Cook got up to find another rider Charlie Deutsch was hurt and receiving medical attention.

As officials decided Deutsch could not be moved from the course and the fence would have to be taken out of action, Cook's reaction was to help in the diverting process.

In his distinctive silks he was the only person visible on TV flagging the field around the fence, yet although he didn't commit an offence, he was "reminded of his responsibilities" by stewards.

On Smith's Vintage Clouds, Cook has a chance to move on from Saturday. Vintage Clouds finished seventh in the race 12 months ago and hasn't finished outside the first four all season.

One horse . . .
Sir Michael Stoute last won the 2,000 Guineas with Golan in 2001, and in the era of Irish domination of the colt's Classic that has unfolded since, the trainer has had few other contenders.

So when Expert Eye  captured last year's Vintage Stakes at Goodwood in such impressive fashion, winning by four and a half lengths, even the trainer accepted the colt was the best two-year-old he had trained for quite a while.

The form backed that up as in third was Mildenberger, winner of the Feilden Stakes this week. Fourth-placed James Garfield won the Mill Reef Stakes, and the fifth home, Seahenge, won the Champagne Stakes.

He started 4-7 favourite to sign off the year with a win in the Dewhurst Stakes but the bubble burst at Newmarket, where Expert Eye got quite buzzed up beforehand, and he was reported lame after finishing last of nine behind US Navy Flag.

James Garfield reopposes but there are no Ballydoyle runners in the Greenham Stakes at Newbury, where Expert Eye has the ideal opportunity to put the record straight and reaffirm his Classic claims.

One race . . .
You often get plenty of jumpers trying to ply their trade on the Flat but few are as good as Elgin, one of the best hurdlers in training, who goes in the 8.30 at Wolverhampton.

The last time Elgin was in action he finished fifth in the Champion Hurdle and with an official rating of 161 over jumps, he could have an awful lot of offer if he is campaigned as a dual purpose horse.

He has won a bumper so the the switch of codes shouldn't be an issue. The opposition could be more problematic, however.

Godolphin field two runners and Ghostwatch, on whom Brett Doyle will be seeking his first winner in Britain since 2013, holds a Derby entry, while Urbino represents Sir Michael Stoute.