Jockey Davy Russell achieved 100 winners in a season for the first time in his career when partnering Lenrey to win the BBA Ireland Limited Opera Hat Novice Chase, at Naas today, half an hour before adding another winner to his seasonal tally.
Russell's double (and 101 total) now means he leads Ruby Walsh, by ten winners, at the head of the jockeys' championship.
Russell partnered 4/6 favourite Lenrey to an all the way win in the novice chase, eventually proving far too strong for Star Gale.
Afterwards winning trainer Arthur Moore reported "Lenrey is a lovely jumper but we'll skip Cheltenham with him. The Pierce Hurdle route we took didn't work out for him but we'll now go for winners of two race at Leopardstown in three weeks before going to airyhouse on Easter Sunday for a Grade 3 Chase - there are plenty of races for him after Easter too."
Half an hour later Russell partnered Oliver McKiernan's Home Hunter to win the hotly contested Paddy Power Cheltenham Trial Sunday February 24th Maiden Hurdle.
The son of Turtle Island was held up by Russell before making headway from four out, eventually moving through to lead on the run-in before going on to win by four lengths from Oscar Time.
McKiernan later revealed "he's entered in the Albert Bartlett Novice Hurdle at Cheltenham and I'll certainly think about running him now."
He added "we used different tactics with him today and decided to come from off the pace; he's a real chaser in the making."
The opening Carvery Restaurant At Naas Maiden Hurdle was won by Edward O'Grady's Peplum, under Andrew McNamara.
A most unlucky final flight faller at Leopardstown on St Stephen's Day, Peplum was made to work to secure his win today, needing all of McNamara's strength to eventually see off the challenge of Sivota by a length and a quarter.
Afterwards O'Grady reported "the testing conditions took the sting out of Peplum's speed today and Andrew said the ground rode very heavy. He may run in the Slaney Hurdle here next month but we might also think about going for a novice hurdle at Cheltenham."
Tony Martin's obviously talented Drumconvis (13/8 favourite from 3/1) made light of a low handicap mark when turning the 25 runner handicap hurdle into a one horse procession, under Paul Carberry.
Regarding future plans, Martin stated "we'll see what the handicapped does with him from here."
Martin Ferris partnered his 7th winner of the season when denying Davy Russell, on Clew Bay Cove, a treble, partnering Fivestar Alstars to win the Bank Of Ireland Handicap Chase while Paddy Flood was seen to very good effect, riding Martin Brassil's Ambobo to win the Property Partners Brady Maynooth Beginners Chase.
Thomas Weekes.
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