DAVY Russell’s cunning ground-saving manoeuvre aboard Dix Villez denied Enda Bolger a fifth consecutive success in the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase on a theatrical first afternoon of Cheltenham’s Open meeting yesterday.

A crack at Kauto Star in the King George VI Chase could be next on the agenda for Briareus after he made a winning comeback for Andrew Balding at Kempton.

Briareus overcame a near two-year absence to deny the Paul Nicholls-trained I’msingingtheblues in the kempton.co.uk Graduation Chase.

Andrew Balding has a small team of five jumpers to go to war with this winter and got his 2008 National Hunt season off to a great start as Show Winner collected at Kempton.