Moscow shows class under Russell at Naas

A triple bumper winner and fourth in the Champion event behind Champagne Fever at Cheltenham in 2012, there's never been any doubting Moscow Mannon s class and he returned to his best with Davy Russell up for the first time in the Tote Account #50 Free Bets Beginners Chase at Naas.

On outing number two for Henry de Bromhead, the former Brian Hamilton runner travelled better to the business end than the favourite, Abbey Lane The successful Moscow Society gelding, bred by his owner Johnathan Flanagan, wasn't in any way extended in the end to score by fifteen lengths.

De Bromhead revealed: "I was a little bit worried about going left handed as he jumped a bit right in Navan but they can come up the stand's side here which Davy did. He did it well and jumped well.

"I was delighted to get the horse from the Flanagan's and we're getting to know him now and he's a nice horse to have.

"He did a lot of slow work before Navan and I've got stuck into him since and he takes his work well.

"We'll look for a winners novice chase."

Meanwhile Russell's summation went as follows: "You'd have to be impressed with the way he done things. Typical for one of Henry's he jumped from fence to fence. He was fit and it's a pleasure to be riding for someone like that.

"He's quite strong and sturdy and from the first to the last I never had to change his mind - it was always going forward." (AM & EM)