DAVY RUSSELL certainly looks the pilot to have on one’s side at the first meeting of the National Hunt campaign to be held at Thurles this afternoon.

THE Michael Winters-trained Rebel Fitz, a costly failure at Galway previously, showed his true colours with a smooth success in the Novice Hurdle at Clonmel yesterday.

ERIC McNAMARA saddled his first winner of the new National Hunt season when Hevelius landed the Frank Purcell Memorial Handicap Hurdle at Clonmel last night.