On Saturday last, a half hour’s drive from his yard that grew from nothing to be one of the most impressive of its type in the world, Gordon Elliott was at Fairyhouse, the highest-profile of the four racecourses of his native county of Meath. For the 43-year-old, it was another normal day. He had a hot favourite, Teahupoo, who duly landed the odds. His hopes of winning the second graded race on the card were dashed as Petit Mouchoir came in second. Not to worry. Petit Mouchoir was owned for most of his life by Elliott’s main backer, Michael O’Leary,…

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