Mixed day for Russell at Cork
Title-chasing jockey Davy Russell endured a mixed day at Cork as he rode a double on the card but was also handed a four-day suspension.
Russell was given the ban, along with fellow rider Robbie Power, after both appeared to anticipate a false start prior to the Follow Us On Twitter Maiden Hurdle.
Russell on Crude and Power on Stop At Nothing, both sat still as the tapes went up and although a steward's enquiry was called into the starting procedure, the stewards judged that Philip Lafarge had affected a fair start.
A frustrated Power said: "We are told to walk into the start, and if you charge the tape you'll get suspended.
"But they were going a half-speed towards the tape, and yet the starter let them go."
Russell did at least get some compensation as he took his tally to 34 winners for the season, nine behind joint leaders Paul Carberry and Andrew McNamara in the jockeys' title race.
His first winner came via the Charles Byrnes-trained Knockfierna (5-2), who impressed in the www.racinghomeforeaster.com Mares Novice Hurdle.
"She did it well, it was a good performance giving a nice bit of weight to the second," said Russell.
Russell's brace was completed on Tony Martin's 11-2 shot Le Marquis, who barely came off the bridle in the Follow Us On Facebook Handicap Hurdle.
Elsewhere on the card, it turned out to be a frustrating day for champion trainer Willie Mullins.
Odds-on favourite Dare To Doubt looked the likely winner of the www.corkracecourse.ie Maiden Hurdle, only to lose out to 4-1 shot Foildubh.
The his stablemate Sicilian Secret oozed class a couple of races later, but had nothing left for a fight at the finish with Peter Fahey's Shop DJ (7-4 favourite).
"She was a bit disappointing at Down Royal last month but we found that she was suffering from allergies," said Fahey.
"The step up in trip definitely helped her today, and the plan is to go next for the two-and-a-half mile mares hurdle at the Leopardstown Christmas meeting or the Slaney Hurdle at Naas early in the New Year."
