Double delight for Russell as Discoteca calls tune

The Gordon Elliott-trained Discoteca was an impressive winner of the Tipperary Water 4-Y-0 Hurdle at Ballinrobe last night, slamming odds-on favourite Darroun to provide champion jockey Davy Russell with the second leg of a double.

A Nayef gelding, owned by Gigginstown House Stud, Discoteca stepped-up on his maiden win at Cork’s Easter meeting, travelling sweetly and jumping exuberantly before Russell seized the initiative after the second last. And Discoteca soon stretched clear to triumph by seven and a half lengths.

Favourite-backers had cause for concern from an early stage as Darroun, unplaced in a Grade 3 event in Auteuil just over a week ago, made the running but Ruby Walsh was nudging his mount along from an early stage before capitulating when headed and outpaced by the winner.