Davy Russell has ground to make up to retain his Jockeys' Championship but the three-times Champion completed a double at Leopardstown today on the Gordon Elliott trained Serious Ego in the Leopardstown May Family Day Handicap Hurdle.

Serious Ego, a point to point winner last April, was today belatedly getting off the mark over hurdles at the tenth attempt when routing his rivals for a very easy seven and a half lengths win over Sil Ver Klass

Elliott wasn't present and Russell, who won the opener on Kilbarry Lilly later said “I think riding him wide helped him.

“I got caught out wide on him once before and he ran really well. I said today whatever I was going to do I was going to give him loads of light. I think it helped him a lot.

“I can't explain it really. The key to him is that everything has to fall right. Going that bit little bit wider today meant that he didn't have to get involved in the hustle and bustle of the race.

“I'm delighted as starting off the year we thought he was going to win a race or two and then we thought he'd gone. We've one up now.”

Russell's double moves him to the 71 winner mark for the season, 19 behind Championship leader Paul Townend on 90, with Rachael Blackmore second on 83.

Quotes from Gary Carson