Russian records first win over flights

Russian Roulette recorded his first win over flights as he took the Dermot O'Callaghan Memorial Handicap Hurdle.

Successful on the level at Tipperary last year, the Charles O'Brien trained five-year-old finished ninth of twenty on his return to action in a handicap hurdle at Gowran last month.

As big as 10/1 for a time this morning, the son of Peintre Celebre opened at 6's on-course before going off a 7/1 chance.

Settled in mid-division by Barry Geraghty, he improved to track the leaders with over a circuit to race.

He was pushed along and disputed the lead from three out, but he was left in front at the next as Conn Job took a heavy fall.

The winner was ridden after that flight, and he kept on well for pressure, going on to score by two lengths. Joy Neville (10/1) finished second under Ryan Treacy for Eric McNamara, while Crocodile Dundee (9/2) was five and a half lengths back in third under Bryan Cooper for his father Tom. Fiddlers Bow was sent off the 4/1 favourite (from 5's) and he finished fourth under Davy Russell for Jimmy Mangan.

Frank Berry, racing manager to winning owner JP McManus, said afterwards: "He ran reasonably well at Gowran but as you can see there, his jumping is a bit sloppy at times and he was on it and off it. Hopefully his jumping can get a bit better and he'll mix it away for the summer."

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes