Steve scores for red hot Russell

Davy Russell started where he left off yesterday evening, as he guided the 11/4 favourite Sister Steve for Pat Martin to the win the opener at Kilbeggan this evening, the Kilbeggan Maiden Hurdle.

Russell, who rode the last three winners on the card at Clonmel yesterday, made it four in a row here aboard the daughter of Exit To Nowhere.

Having run well on her handicap debut at Roscommon in July behind Banna Man the winner then reverted back to maiden company on her next start where she finished third to Annie Other over the course.

On her last start she ran in a handicap hurdle in Sligo finishing just under five lengths behind Sean Airgead, early last month. Fairwood Massini led from the start but jumped left throughout. He jumped badly left at the last and relinquished his lead as the winner stayed on best to score by a length and a half. Tirmoyle ran a nice race on his hurdling debut staying on to take second for John Ryan at 10/1, while the front runner Fairwood Massini kept going to finish just a short head back in third at 9/2.

Winning trainer Pat Martin said afterwards: "Davy did a great job. He got the split when he needed them. The owners (Kathleen Smyth) husband Gerry lives close to here and he rushed over as he was cutting corn."

Donal Murphy