Wonder ride has Charles Byrnes singing Davy Russell’s praises

Davy Russell took the riding honours with victories on Chief Justice in the Grade 3 Juvenile Hurdle and Wonder Laish in the valuable handicap hurdle coming either side of his win on Delta Work in the Grade 1 Drinmore Chase.

Chief Justice got the better of his stablemate Coeur Sublime in the opener, scoring by a short head to record his fourth hurdles win and trainer Gordon Elliott said: “I thought Coeur Sublime, getting 7lb from Chief Justice, had the better chance and but for missing the second-last he probably would have won.

“But fair play to the winner. It was a good effort giving the weight away. He can be a bit of a monkey but he’s smart and jumps well.”
Russell’s riding of Wonder Laish, who held Tudor City by half a length in the 2m handicap hurdle, was praised by trainer Charles Byrnes after the winner had coped with a 17lb hike in the ratings following his previous win at Navan.