Championship leader Davy Russell further boosted his chances of a first National Hunt jockeys’ title this season by making all aboard Prince Ludovic in the opening thetote.com Maiden Hurdle at Clonmel.

The in-form Youghal rider, fresh from a double at Thurles on Tuesday, is now 18 ahead of Ruby Walsh (99-81) with just over three weeks of the season remaining.

The Paul Nolan-trained gelding was strongly pressed by Fine Presentation (8/1) at the second last but a fine leap at the final flight settled the issue for the 2/1 second favourite who galloped on strongly to score by three and three quarter lengths. Corbally Cross (8/1) stayed on well in the closing stages to finish just a neck further back in third, while the well-backed 13/8 favourite Tales Of Milan could only keep on at one pace to take fourth.

Nolan said, “It’s nice to have a winner. He was in here off his mark and there was nothing with savage form in the race. He will stay on the go now provided the ground stays as it is.”

(Additional reporting by Donal Murphy)