Winning return for Davy Russell in Roscommon

Sidelined since May 7, champion-jockey Davy Russell made a successful return to competitive action when landing the €30,000 thetote.com Connacht National Handicap Chase on top-weight Kaiser Back in Roscommon last night.

Trained by Pat Doyle and raised 15lb to a mark of 138 for a comfortable win in the Mayo National in Ballinrobe last month, the 7-2 favourite was given a supremely confident ride by Russell, who stalked the leaders throughout before delivering his challenge two fences from home.

Kaiser Black soon asserted, produced a spectacular leap at the final fence and went on to beat Master Appeal convincingly by four lengths with Na Trachtalai Abu a close third.