Russell excels as Mansony proves just Champion

THE Arthur Moore-trained Mansony stepped well up on anything produced previously when taking his first Grade 1 race, the Kerrygold Champion Chase, at Punchestown yesterday.

In truth, he largely owed the victory to a staggeringly confident drive from in-form Davy Russell, who pulled this right out of the fire.

Russell sat out the back, as Newmill and Justified carried the field along for much of the journey.