Warrior outbattles Solwhit

Crowned champion-jockey for the first time last April, Davy Russell ended 2012 on a high when completing a double for Michael O’Leary’s Gigginstown House Stud at Punchestown yesterday, highlighted by Bog Warrior’s emphatic defeat of long-absent Solwhit in the Follow Punchestown On Facebook Hurdle.

An easy winner of a handicap hurdle at Fairyhouse last time, a well-timed confidence-boost after a crashing fall in Down Royal, Bog Warrior asserted from the third last and, when chased by six-time Grade 1 winner Solwhit (having his first run in almost two years), stayed on stoutly to triumph by six and a half lengths.

Bog Warrior’s performance delighted his trainer Tony Martin, who commented: “I’m thrilled with that. It’s great to get a couple of wins with him after what happened in the north He’s had a few problems in the past, so we’ll see how he is in the morning. I’ll have to discuss plans with the lads (Michel and Eddie O’Leary). There are lots of options open to him.”