Grand National-winning trainer Gordon Elliott confirmed his engagement to Kate Harrington, daughter of legendary trainer Jessica, following a victory at Cheltenham on Friday

Grand National-winning trainer Gordon Elliott rounded off a remarkable week by sealing victory at Cheltenham on Friday, before confirming news of his engagement to Kate Harrington.

Elliott, 48, added yet another win to his impressive record with Bowensonfire at Friday's race meeting, further cementing his yard's outstanding form throughout the current season.

The Meath-based trainer made history back in 2007 when, at just 29 years old, he became the youngest trainer ever to claim victory in the Grand National at Aintree.

Following his triumph in the Catesby Estates Novices' Chase at Cheltenham, Elliott was quizzed about the engagement rumours by Nick Luck on Racing TV, and duly confirmed the happy news.

Luck said "you got engaged yesterday, congratulations" - to which Elliott replied by saying "yes" and "thank you", reports the Irish Mirror.

Kate Harrington, 36, is the youngest daughter of celebrated trainer Jessica Harrington and currently serves as her mother's assistant, while also making occasional appearances as a pundit on Racing TV.

An accomplished amateur jockey in her own right, she rode Moscow Flyer to her first win in 2007 before hanging up her riding boots in 2018, having accumulated around 50 victories throughout her career.

Harrington, who is based in Moone, and Elliott, whose yard is situated in Summerhill, Co Meath, have been in a relationship for several years, largely keeping their romance out of the spotlight. She stood firmly by his side during his contentious six-month training ban in 2021, after he was photographed sitting on a deceased horse.

Elliott stands among the most accomplished trainers in contemporary racing, boasting three Aintree Grand National victories to his name - Silver Birch in 2007, followed by the remarkable Tiger Roll who triumphed in both 2018 and 2019.

His record includes more than 40 Cheltenham Festival winners, with the accolade of leading trainer at the prestigious meeting in both 2017 and 2018.

Elliott's journey in racing began as a youngster, spending weekends and school breaks working alongside Tony Martin. After obtaining his amateur rider's licence aged 16, he enjoyed considerable success in both point-to-point racing and on the track.

His riding career yielded 46 racecourse victories, with the pinnacle being his triumph aboard the Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained King's Road in the Punchestown Champion Bumper in 1998. He also competed as an amateur for Martin Pipe.

After retiring from the saddle at the close of 2005, he turned his attention to training the following year. Elliott captured global headlines when Silver Birch, ridden by Robbie Power, stormed to victory in the 2007 Aintree Grand National - a triumph made even more extraordinary given that he had not yet saddled a winner in Ireland at that point.