Davy Russell gave Media Queen a brilliant ride to follow-up her Roscommon win from a fortnight back as the daughter of Oscar came home twenty three lengths in front in the Bord Gais Networks Handicap Hurdle after Windix ran out at the last.
Russell was towards the rear on Donie Hassett's runner when he spotted a gap on the rail across the bottom which he duly seized on to gain a number of places and go in pursuit of the leaders. He had maybe just about taken Windix's measure when that one ran out through the rail on the inside of the track at the final flight.
Russell said afterwards: "The extra trip definitely helped her. She is very tough and I had Windix covered when he ran out. I didn't force him to do that. I rode my first ever winner for Charlie (Moore from Kilworth, uncle of Derek O'Connor and owner of Media Queen) in a point-to-point so it's great to have another one for him." Flamenco Prince the gamble of the contest, 14s into 5/1 was left to take a moderate second on the departure of Windix (quite well-backed too). Media Queen was easier to back than she had been in the morning as a result, going off 9/4 market-leader.
