Two for Russell on Midnight

If you invested at odds of 4/7 in Midnight Game for the Horse & Jockey Hotel Hurdle you were slightly worried at a stage. It looked though, that Davy Russell was always confident he was going to win, and win the odds-on chance duly did to bring up a double for the champion jockey in race three at Thurles.

Half-an-hour earlier Russell returned to the number one on Colin Bowe's Whiskey And Red but on Midnight Game he donned the silks of his employer, Gigginstown House Stud.

The victorious Montjeu gelding led from before the third last but he was tackled by his market rival Joxer going to the last.

Both 'flew' the final flight and Midnight Game was always doing enough on the run-in, ultimately prevailing by a length. The other Gigginstown House Stud-owned runner in the four horse affair, Arnaud ran well to be third, a further length back.

Willie Mullins trains Midnight Game and he said: "He's holding his improvement and we'll try to go up the ladder slowly with him. If we could find another few like this I'd be very happy.

"He has come to himself this season." (TW & EM)