Russell stars on day of drama
The covers were finally removed on the 2008 National Hunt season proper, and fans were treated to high drama from flagfall to sunset.
Jason McKeown kicked off the day by coming home with another jockey’s whip in the opening race, resulting in a lengthy stewards’ inquiry.
Officials were again called into action when it appeared Russell had taken the wrong course on Paul Nolan’s charge in the cross-country spectacle, which Bolger has in recent years dominated with Spot Thedifference.
Russell nipped to the inside of a few bushes aboard the 28-1 chance during the race, prompting fears he had taken the wrong course.
But he had done his homework and his shrewdly-taken short-cut allowed him to romp up the hill, three lengths clear of Bolger’s 13-8 favourite Garde Champetre.
Russell said: “I knew I had gone the right way and there are little short-cuts here and there and they make a difference.
“I was speaking to the stewards beforehand about that short-cut and the bushes don’t matter as markers.”
Nolan added of the winner: “He was third to Garde Champetre at Punchestown and that is only his second time over the banks.
“He had lost interest but the banks have boosted his confidence.
“We will stick to cross-country races now and come back here in December and again in March.”
McKeown earlier caused laughter around the winner’s enclosure when his whip misdemeanour was announced over the loud speaker following the Irish Times Amateur Riders’ Handicap Chase.
The 23-year-old had dropped his own persuader when his mount clouted the third fence – so instead grabbed the stick of Donal Devereux, who was weakening aboard King Harald at the top of the hill.
McKeown’s audacious move enabled the rider to spark renewed life into the Gordon Elliott-trained Hoopy (15-2), who wore down the Ian Chanin-ridden Alexanderthegreat on the run-in for a dour victory.
Connections of the runner-up contested Hoopy’s success on the grounds of unfair advantage, but their appeal was dismissed – although McKeown was suspended two days for improper riding.
The jockey said: “I didn’t cause any inconvenience and I didn’t try to knock anybody over – I just borrowed the stick for a while.
“He gave the stick to me and I’d have done the same in his position.”
Sheena West posted her first win at the course as Golan Way maintained his unbeaten record by making all in the Grade Two Sharp Novices’ Hurdle.
The 8-1 chance was about to be swallowed up by Paul Nicholls’ 5-4 favourite American Trilogy rounding the home turn, but the gutsy individual pulled the race from out of the fire by stretching clear close home.
West said: “We knew he would keep going, nothing has got past him yet.
“We came here on a bit of a fact-finding mission and we will have to start thinking about coming back for the Festival now.”
Blue Square introduced Golan Way at 40-1 for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.
Nicholls bounced back in the paddypower.com Graduation Chase as Ornais (13-8) and Ruby Walsh led from pillar to post to see off odds-on favourite Battlecry by eight lengths.
Nicholls said: “He is super-fit, so the plan was to go flat-out all of the way.
“He’ll now to go Sandown on the Friday of the Tingle Creek meeting for an intermediate chase that Turko won last year.”
The champion trainer also held a leading hand in the Steel Plate And Sections Novices’ Chase with even-money favourite Herecomesthetruth.
Walsh’s mount ran out at the last, however, which gave Shining Gale (8-1) the opportunity with which to breeze home alone.
William Hill gave Charlie Mann’s charge a 25-1 quote for the Royal & SunAlliance Chase.
Nicky Henderson warmed up for his double-handed challenge on the Paddy Power Gold Cup when 11-4 favourite Andytown secured a bloodless win in the RBC Wealth Management Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle.
