Returning Russell rides Leopardstown winner

Davy Russell will return to Cheltenham in the coming days and today partnered his first winner since the Dublin Racing Festival, when landing the Anton O'Toole Hurdle, at Leopardstown, on Fils D'oudairies.

Russell's previous winner was in the Leopardstown Chase on February 5, the same day he also had a heavy fall, and today returned from 17 days off and following Friday's news that sidelined Jack Kennedy would miss the Cheltenham festival.

Riding Fils D'oudairies (4/1) with typical patience, Russell chased pace-setting Saint Sam (4/7f), before moving by jumping the final flight, for a three and a half lengths win.

Russell reported “I've been very busy with the kids and I've been on the road plenty but felt the other day that I had pushed on through the pain and was ready to come back. Gordon said there was a couple of horses here for me and I'll be riding away between now and Cheltenham.”

Regarding his recent return from retirement replacing Kennedy, he added “there isn't much I can say to Jack as obviously I'm taking his position but he knows I'm behind him the whole way.

“We were waiting for the news (on Friday) and he had put in a good shift to get back but it didn't happen for him. He is a big player in the whole team and hopefully will be at Cheltenham shouting us on.

“I've learned not to get too excited (about Cheltenham) until after it but even if I wasn't riding I'd be excited as I love it and it is a marvellous time of year.”

Winning trainer Gordon Elliott added “I thought it was a nice performance by Fils D'ourdairies - obviously we thought the favourite (Saint Sam) was going to be very hard to beat and Davy gave him a nice ride. He was quick out the gates and took a lead the whole way.

“He's a good horse on his day when things go right for him and it's nice for Davy to come back on a winner.”

Quotes from Gary Carson