Kates Benefit and Davy Russell clear at Navan© Photo Healy Racing
Champion jockey Davy Russell was denied the chance to ride at Aintree this week on medical grounds but proved his wellbeing with a wide-margin victory aboard Kates Benefit at Navan.
Russell was taking the ride on Ken Budds' 13-8 favourite for the first time in the www.thetote.com Mares Maiden Hurdle, and he never saw another rival after leading from flagfall.< Wipe Your Eye ran on from further back to fill the runner-up spot, but she was 15 lengths down at the line, with New River taking third.
Russell had to settle for second on Dylan Ross as Willie Mullins took the www.thetote.com Novice Chase with Rupert Lamb (9-10 favourite).
Russell tracked the Declan Lavery-ridden winner from the off and joined issue jumping two out, but Rupert Lamb put in a better jump at the last and stuck to his task to score by a length and a half.
The Grade Two Webster Cup Chase went to 18-1 outsider Sumkindasuprstar under Irish Grand National-winning jockey Ben Dalton.
John Clifford's nine-year-old claimed the biggest win of his career by edging out Mr Cracker by a short head in a thrilling finish after taking up the running on the turn into the home straight.
Peter Casey's Flemenstar managed only third behind Sprinter Sacre this week, but the trainer will have been all smiles after 20-1 chance Art Lord made every post a winning one in the www.thetote.com Maiden Hurdle.
Alan Crowe caught the others napping turning in and the gelding found plenty to repel the belated challenge of hot favourite Aonvarr by five lengths.< Rolling Rocket (20-1) fought off the persistent challenge of Shanroe Society to win the two-mile www.thetote.com Handicap Hurdle by a neck for trainer Stephen Ryan and jockey Robbie Moran.
Seamus Fahey's Hazariban (10-1) finally got his head in front in the www.thetote.com Handicap Hurdle over two and a half miles, striding clear going to the last under Kevin Sexton and winning by three and a half lengths.
