Champion jockey elect Davy Russell had his 100th winner of the campaign when Dedigout made a successful start in handicap company as a first time tongue-tie helped him land the two mile six furlong Irish Field-backed 0-140 event at Fairyhouse.

An astute purchase out of the John Queally yard after finishing runner-up in a point-to-point at Dungarvan, Dedigout was having just his fifth racecourse outing here but that lack of experience was no drawback for the six-year-old as he led before the last before going on to beat the staying-on Novarov by two lengths.

Russell said afterwards: "Tony (Martin, the winning trainer) has done a wonderful job with this horse. I thought he should have been out in a field a month ago but he said the tongue-tie would make a difference to him and he's obviously been proved right."

Tony Martin commented: "He's been running against good horses like Monksland at Naas where he made two horrendous mistakes.

"We tried the tongue-tie today and we thought it might help. He enjoyed the ground and the bit of rain helped him.

"We'll look to see what's at Punchestown for him but he's a nice horse for the future and he'll jump fences next year."

Michael O'Leary's Gigginstown House Stud own Dedigout and the Ryanair boss remarked: "He's a very nice horse. We didn't bring him to Cheltenham as we didn't think he was good enough.

"That was a great ride from Davy though I have to say I thought he was too far back." (MG & EM)