An Caisteal Nuadh makes light of an absence

An Caisteal Nuadh (4/1) bounded away from the last to land the two mile maiden hurdle in Limerick for Gordon Elliott and Davy Russell.

He raced in third before moving into second as the 9/10 favourite Gagas Horse came under pressure on the approach to the second last.

An Caisteal Nuadh then closed on the leader Riverainshine and travelled strongly to pick him off at the last.

A slick jump there saw him land full of running and he readily put four and a half lengths on the runner-up Riverrainshine (12/1). Absolute Grit was a further 19 lengths away in third at 33/1 while Gagas Horse dropped to fourth.

Davy Russell said: "He ended up doing it well to be fair, he loved the ground and jumped great and is a typical one of Gordon's who ran to the line.

"The year (absence) wouldn't bother you coming out of Gordon's and he'll come on for that. It's great, he was fresh and well and Gordon had done a lovely job with him."

Assistant trainer Ian Amond said: "He has won it well. It probably wasn't a great race but all he can do is beat what is infront of him. Hopefully he can kick on from there.

"He had had little small things, nothing major. It has just taken him a while to get to the track but at least now he has repaid the boys that own him.

"He didn't have a hard time there so Gordon will find somewhere for him and get him again in a couple of weeks."

This was Russell's first winner in the Imperial Racing Syndicate racing silks (as sported by Imperial Commander in the Gold Cup at Cheltenham in 2010).

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes