Davy Russell at his best on tricky customer in Mallow

It may look as though winners are coming easily to Gordon Elliott right now but he is ably assisted from the saddle and Davy Russell was at his brilliant best aboard tricky customer Lieutenant Colonel when taking the UCC Horse Racing Society Hurdle on Student Raceday in Mallow.

The former Grade One-winning hurdler had won only once since late 2014 and isn’t the easiest of rides but Russell coaxed a seventh career victory out of the easy-to-back nine-year-old. The well-backed Karalee set off in front, but Russell made a smart move across the bottom of the track and took a narrow lead into the straight.

The odds-on favourite came back for more and Knockraha Pylon also mounted a challenge in the straight, but few results are going against Russell right now and again he was in no mood to be denied. Under a strong drive his mount managed to fend off the challenge of Karalee by a little over a length.