The winner of 41 races at the Cheltenham Festival and long time rival to Willie Mullins is to marry Kate Harrington, who works with her trainer mother

Top trainer Gordon Elliott has confirmed his engagement to the daughter of another top trainer Jessica Harrington. Elliott runs one of the most successful jumps stables in Ireland and is a long time rival to Willie Mullins.

He has trained 41 Cheltenham Festival winners, finishing top trainer twice, and recorded his biggest success at the meeting when Don Cossack landed the 2016 Cheltenham Gold Cup. However his greatest achievement to date has been to win the Grand National three times, twice with the great Tiger Roll in 2018 and 2019, and Silver Birch in 2007.

The 48-year-old son of a panel beater has built his Cullentra House Stable in Co Meath, Ireland into a formidable operation since retiring from the saddle. Now he annually goes toe-to-toe on the track with Mullins, Ireland’s most successful jumps trainer.

He has been involved in a long term relationship with Kate Harrington, the daughter of legendary trainer Jessica Harringon, who is the most successful female trainer at the Cheltenham Festival.

A Classic-winning trainer on the Flat, she is best known for the brilliant two-mile chaser Moscow Flyer, a ten-time Grade 1 winner, and the Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Sizing John.

Kate Harrington, who works with her mother alongside sister Emma and her brother-in-law at their Meath stable, confirmed the engagement news to Evoke.ie , telling the website, “We’re all very happy”.

No further details of the nuptials have been shared but the announcement was a topic of conversation at Cheltenham where Elliott was in the winners’ enclosure at the track’s first meeting of the season.

Bowensonfire, the Evens favourite, captured the Catesby Estates ‘Chasing Excellence’ Novices’ Chase under stable jockey Jack Kennedy.

Elliott was approached about the engagement news by ITV Racing reporter Oli Bell on Friday.

Bell said: “I know you’ll hate this but I just want to say congratulations on the news that came through this week, engagement to Kate. That’s great news so on behalf of all of us, congratulations.

“Do you have anything to say about it?” Bell added. “No,” said Elliott.