Russell returns but Townend draws first Blood

Three-time champion jockey Davy Russell resumed his career following a short-lived 26-day retirement today, finishing fifth on Jazzy Matty in Fairyhouse's opening Race Displays Hurdle, behind impressive winner Blood Destiny

The Bobby Ewing-style surprise return follows the leg fracture suffered by Gordon Elliott's stable jockey Jack Kennedy last Sunday with Russell resuming for his old ally on Jazzy Matty which failed to feature, finishing fifth.

The Willie Mullins-trained Blood Destiny (8/13f), carrying Florida Pearl's same O'Leary family colours, proved the impressive all-the-way 18 lengths winner under Paul Townend, who reported “he has obviously improved again from his win at Cork and just has a lovely way of going about it.

“He was idle enough and missed a couple of hurdles but he was doing nothing. It was just a matter of getting over the last couple. I slowed down, when they caught up to me, and then gave him one squeeze and he galloped down to the last and away through it again. He didn't have a hard race there either.”

“Both he and (stablemate and leading juvenile) Lossiemouth are good - it's hard to compare juveniles but the amount he has improved from Cork and where she is, she's doing things right. It's nice to have the two of them.”

Quotes from Gary Carson