Sidelined since May 7, champion-jockey Davy Russell made a successful return to competitive action when landing the €30,000 thetote.com Connacht National Handicap Chase on top-weight Kaiser Back in Roscommon last night.

Jonathan Burke has been appointed first jockey to one of the biggest owners of National Hunt horses in this country, Alan and Ann Potts, replacing Andrew Lynch.

The J P McManus-owned Ainama provided the Madden family with a victory to savour when landing the competitive thetote.com Connacht National Handicap Chase in Roscommon last night.

THE Charles Byrnes-trained Campbonnais, in the familiar colours of Michael O’Leary’s Gigginstown House Stud, relished the step-up to an extended three miles when landing the inaugural running of the Tote-sponsored Connacht National Handicap Chase at Roscommon yesterday.