FORMER champion jockey Davy Russell successfully deputised for Jonathan Burke, who went for precautionary X-rays on his neck after a heavy fall from Sizing Silver in the first race at Thurles on Thursday, aboard Henry de Bromhead’s Smashing in the listed chase.

Nevertheless it wasn’t all plain sailing for the 9/10 favourite who got in a bit close to the penultimate obstacle and had a good look at the final fence before going on to defeat Tennis Cap by five lengths. Nearly Nama’d took the third spot but the winner’s main danger Avant Tout had just gone second when making his exit at the third last.