DAVY Russell returned from an 11-month injury layoff at Downpatrick on Friday and gained a first winner in 343 days at Navan on Saturday, with Chemical Energy (4/7f) which formed part of a treble for trainer Gordon Elliott in the Bar One Racing Double The Odds Maiden Hurdle,
Russell fractured and dislocated vertebrae in a first-fence fall from Doctor Duffy in the Munster National last October with his recovery initially necessitating realignment of his spine.
At Downpatrick last Friday, the triple champion jockey returned with two second-placed rides, but he was able to go one better at Navan when he steered Chemical Energy to an easy 11-length win over Fancy A Cosmo.
Delighted
A delighted Russell later reported: “That was lovely. It was heartening to get such a nice reception when I came back in. My mother is from this part of the country so my uncles used to always come racing here in the past. It’s a great place.
“It’s a lovely feeling when you cross the line. It’s a relief, if anything, and at least I can still do it anyway. I feel great, super, and got through Downpatrick no problem.”
Elliott, who returned from a high-profile suspension this week, added: “It’s great for Davy to come back on a winner, obviously he’s a big part of the team.
“We’ll try and find a novice hurdle for him now. The owners (Caldwell Construction) are from England so I wouldn’t be shocked if he ended up going over there for something.”
Elliott had earlier won the opening Download The Bar One Racing App Maiden Hurdle with Weseekhimhere (11/10f) for owner John Doyle, which was also a first winner back from injury for jockey Jack Kennedy.
Kennedy, who fractured ribs in a Roscommon first-flight juvenile hurdle melee in August, steered the son of Elusive Pimpernel to a five-and-a-half-length win from Vultan.
Elliott said: “He’s a nice horse and he had a good run on the flat at Roscommon a few weeks ago. Jack was happy with him and said he jumped well. He said he would get a bit further as well, if you had asked me that last year I would have questioned it but he’ll definitely get further.
“He probably doesn’t want real winter ground but we’ll keep him going and see where we go now.”
Elliott, who recorded a six-timer on Troytown Chase Day at the venue in November 2016, completed his hat-trick in the BarOneRacing.com Hurdle with the Bective Stud-owned Tullybeg, which was the opening leg of a double for jockey Jordan Gainford.
The son of Sholokhov chased the leaders for much of the race before improving past leader Edison Kent on the run-in to beat that rival by half a length.
Afterwards the trainer reported: “That’s brilliant, the horses are running well. We probably won’t jump a fence with him this year because he lost his confidence that day in Punchestown. We’ll just tip away and see where we go.”
He added: “It’s great for Noel and Valerie (Moran, owners) to get a winner at their local track and they sponsor Jordan so it’s great for him to get a winner with the breeches – it’s his first week wearing them.”
One race later Gainford completed his double on the John McConnell trained Yamato, in the BarOneracing.com Handicap Hurdle (Div I), steering the 11/2 winner in the Singing The Blues Syndicate.
Afterwards McConnell stated: “I’m thrilled with that because he’s a consistent little horse. He was a cheap claim and he’s now won on the flat and over hurdles.
“He’s a very tough horse, he’s had a lot of runs between myself and Michael Halford. He’s been on the go a long time. There is probably another race in him on the flat, over a mile-six or two miles.”
THE most valuable race was the €14,500 Bar One Racing Multiples Ladies Handicap Hurdle which was won by Rock On Seamie, under Aine O’Connor and scored a fourth career win for owner/trainer Ray Hackett.
The Lilbourne Lad-sired gelding raced prominently throughout and on the run-in stayed on well to hold the fast-finishing Nibiru by half a length.
Afterwards Hackett said: “Aine’s 5lb claim in those races is very valuable. I thought she gave him a fantastic ride, when they quickened, she sat and waited, didn’t get involved, gave him a chance and he came home strong.
“He’ll probably get an entry for the Friday or Saturday at Listowel and all going well he’ll go there.”
The John Morrison-trained and -owned Profound gained his second career win in the Bar One Handicap Hurdle scoring a neck win under regular rider Mike O’Connor.
The Intello gelding’s previous win was at Limerick in July and following today’s winning jockey O’Connor said: “We did it fairly well, we kept things simple today. We were fairly hopeful coming into the race and he came back to his Limerick form. He puts his head down and he battles away.”
JOCKEY Jack Foley got off the mark on his first ride for trainer Robert Tyner, steering the Cork trainer’s Direct Image (9/1, for owners Michael Walsh and John Carroll) to win the Bar One Racing New Account Handicap Hurdle (Div II).
The point-to-point winner, a daughter of Shantou, reverted to hurdles for the first time since December 2019 and eventually scored by a length and three-parts over Dynamic Allen.
Afterwards Foley stated: “I spoke to Robert (Tyner) beforehand and neither of us could see much pace in the race so he said to pop out and not be afraid to go upsides if nothing wanted to go on.
“That was a good performance. I’m based with Tom Mullins a couple of mornings a week and with Willie a few mornings as well. Tom is my boss and he’s brilliant to me.”
Racing concluded with the BarOneRacing Bumper, which was won by a nose by One Last Tango who held the last-gasp effort of runner-up Ocean Of Mercy. Jockey Harry Swan steered the Elaine O’Donovan-owned winner.
Trainer Eoin Griffin said: “My assistant Elaine owns him and it’s her first winner. She has worked very hard with him and a lot of it is down to her. She’s over the moon to get that.
“It’s very seldom I come out the right side of a photo so I’ll take it and we’re delighted. He’ll be a nice horse for next summer in all those festival meetings.”