Whiskey And Red & Davy Russell on their way to victory with Jack The Ref on their inside© Photo Healy Racing
Paul Roche recorded his first winner in over two years as his Whiskey And Rye took the Willie Murphy Jewellers Handicap Hurdle, providing rider Davy Russell with a double on the card (won the third aboard Claragh Native .
Roche, who trains in Fenor near Tramore, Co Waterford, last tasted success when Island Oscar took a novice hurdle at Ffos Las in August of 2010. Whiskey And Red who is a lightly raced son of Craigsteel, was well supported and having opened at 14/1 in a place this morning, he opened on track at just 11/2 before being sent off the 9/2 second favourite.
Coming back from a break of nearly seven months, having his first start in a handicap hurdle and wearing a tongue strap for the first time, Russell had the 7yo gelding in mid-division for much of the race.
He made good headway to track the leaders at the second last and jumped the last in second when challenging the leader Baby's Hot
He stayed on best up the hill to get on top close home and win by half a length at the line from the Dessie Hughes trained, Bryan Cooper ridden Baby's Hot in second at 10/1. Jack The Ref completed the placings two lengths back in third at 9/1 under David Casey for Philip Rothwell while the 3/1 favourite High Talk could only manage fifth under Derek Fox for Mark McNiff.
"Paul's at a funeral today. He burst the last time and has been waiting on better ground. He also had a tongue tie on today,” said Robert Widger, who was representing the winning trainer.
It was Russell's sixth double of the season and twenty-eighth winner overall.
He is now just one behind Patrick Mullins who is leading the NH jockeys championship on twenty-nine winners (excluding his fourth flat wins).
The Stewards interviewed B Hayes, rider of Harangue concerning his use of the whip in the closing stages of this race.
Evidence was heard from the rider concerned.
Having viewed a recording of the race and considered the evidence the Stewards found that B Hayes was in breach of Regulation 10 3. (b) continued hitting of the horse after its chance of winning or being placed had gone (e) hitting of the horse other than down the shoulder or on the hind quarters and (f) with excessive force and frequency. Having taken his record into account they suspended him for three race days and referred him to RACE for one day.
(On-course reporting by Gary Carson)
