THE real drama at Cork last Sunday happened before the first race was even run when Davy Russell broke both bones in his left arm and fractured his right foot in a freak accident in the parade ring. He faces around 10 weeks on the sidelines.

The jockey had just mounted Meadowlands in the Family Day Out Maiden Hurdle when the mare reared up and dislodged him.

Russell, who only returned from a fractured elbow on his right arm a few months ago, was left with fractures to his radius and ulna and was taken to Cork University Hospital where he was due to undergo an operation to have it plated.

Brian Hayes took over on Meadowlands and the partnership finished a never dangerous fifth behind Edward O’Grady’s easy nine-length victor Roconga who came home on a tight rein under Andrew Lynch.

The 4/6 favourite is owned by the trainer’s son-in-law Robert Byrne and O’Grady said: “In fairness he was recovering from a bout of ringworm when he ran a bit disappointing here and perhaps he hadn’t fully recovered. It was a different trip as well and he’ll probably go for a handicap at Ballinrobe on September 22nd.”

Things did not go according to plan for jockey Ruby Walsh either on the hot-pot Daneking in the J.P. McManus Rated Hurdle. The 1/2 market leader looked to be in his comfort zone and poised to deliver when making a complete hash of the third last, unceremoniously dumping the champion out the back door.

Fortunately Walsh was quickly back on his feet but Daneking’s ship had sailed and Donal O’Shea’s good servant Coolmill took full advantage to hold the late thrust of Knight’s Parade by half a length and give his 17-year-old rider Cian Collins from Tralee his second winner. The Tralee native is now with Sandra Hughes and coincidentally the runner-up was ridden by his landlord Bryan Cooper.

O’Shea trains in Glenbeigh and also owns his 7/1 winner, commenting: “He was off form last year but is coming back, slowly but surely and ran very well in Killarney. He’ll go to Listowel now and I might chance him in a 140 rated hurdle there on the Saturday.”

Ruby Walsh bounced back in with an all-the-way five and a half-length success on 5/1 chance Hard Fought for Eddie Hales in the two and a half mile Corkracecourse.ie Mares Maiden Hurdle. Joint favourites Edith Somerville and Brogine finished third and eighth respectively.

Owned by neighbouring farmer John Dwyer from Knockavilla, Hard Fought deserved her win and Hales agreed, stating: “It’s been a long time coming but Ruby got off her last time and said ‘I think I have a plan - let me ride her again and I can win on her over a trip.’ She’ll go for a handicap now.”

The rest of the afternoon belonged to 16-year-old Jack Kennedy who set up the fourth racecourse double of his career with a half-length win on last month’s Tramore scorer My Manekineko, from the James Nash stable, in the Martinstown Opportunity Handicap Hurdle.

The 9/2 favourite sealed the issue in the closing stages for his Malaysian-born owner Ka Hon Tham. Nash revealed: “Manekineko is Malaysian for my piggy bank and he’s been some piggy bank! That’s three out of four for him and he seems to be improving and enjoying his hurdling.

“Tramore gave him confidence it showed today. Jack is a great addition. He’ll have a little break now and I might chance him in a flat race. He’s rated 55 on the flat but hurdles have improved him.”

Kennedy picked up a lucky spare in the Buy Online @ Corkracecourse.ie 80-102 Handicap Hurdle when deputising for the injured Kevin Smith on Phil The Flyer to complete his double.

The 10/1 shot, trained in Nenagh by Ray Hackett for his father Liam, led from start to finish and was a length to the good over the gallant top-weight Just Call Me at the line.

The eight-year-old was winning his second race and his trainer was full of praise for Kennedy’s contribution, saying: “He’s good from the front for a young fellow - exceptional. His last race in Clonmel is working out well and he might go to Listowel.

“He’s no spring chicken but has lots of scope for jumping fences. He needs nice ground and with all the troubles he’s had wouldn’t want it any better than that (officially good).”

Aidan O’Brien’s good run of success with the jumpers owned by J.P. McManus continued with Tigris River in the Online Ticket Sales @Corkracecourse.ie Hurdle.

Barry Geraghty always looked to have a double handful and unleashed his challenge on the 2/5 favourite on the approach to the final flight, going on to take command half-way up the run-in for a cosy length and a quarter victory over Moonmeister.

The jockey said on his return “He jumped well and did it well. He’s improving.”

Amateur Declan Queally needs just more winner before his claim is reduced to 3lb after landing the Follow Cork Racecourse On Twitter Flat Race for Co. Kilkenny trainer David O’Brien on Walkers Point by a decisive three-length margin from Ah Littleluck. The disappointing favourite here was Pont De Alma who was being ridden along in the straight and could finish only fifth.

A winner’s bumper could be next on the cards for the 7/1 winner if he is not sold in the meantime. Walkers Point carries the colours of Aidan Fogarty, the manager of Phonsie O’Brien’s Landscape Stud in Kilsheelan.

O’Brien said: “We always knew he was a nice horse but he was wicked jittery when we were breaking him. We said we’d give him a couple of runs and he surprised me.

“We gave him a four or five week break and he came back a different horse. He keeps finding the whole way and I think he’ll make a nice National Hunt horse because he jumps well.”