Russell doubles up on Rivage

Davy Russell completed a near 93/1 double on the day at Cheltenham as Rivage d'Or was produced with a well-timed challenge to take an incident-packed Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase.

The former champion was successful earlier on Windsor Park (9/2) in the Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle, and is also no stranger to success over the banks at Prestbury Park.

Rivage d'Or (16/1) slowly crept into the race and avoided a nasty spill before the home turn as French challenger and favourite Toutancarmont went left and took out Quantitativeeasing , with both crashing through the rails.

Russell guided Tony Martin's charge over the final obstacle and he galloped all the way to the line to score by two and a quarter lengths.

Any Currency , narrowly denied in this race a year ago, had to make do with the runner-up spot once again.

Willie Mullins-trained pair Uncle Junior , aged 14, and Dogora , were third and fourth respectively.

Russell said: "I enjoyed that immensely. The horse was brilliant. He (Martin) is a dangerous man around here."

Martin was quick to highlight the role Russell played in the victory.

He said: "Davy's a natural horseman and was the right man for the job. Throughout the race we were always happy, it was just a matter of being patient and waiting."

Winning owner Michael O'Leary, whose Gigginstown operation also claimed the RSA Chase with Don Poli , said Rivage d'Or had been up for sale earlier in the year.

"It's been a wonderful day," said the Ryanair supremo.

"I was so confident in this horse. This is a horse we tried to sell a couple of months ago but he failed his vet's (tests) and came back to us."