'Like-for-like' Russell proves a super-sub on Walsh's winner

Three-times Champion Jockey Davy Russell came in for a somewhat unusual winning spare ride on the John Joe Walsh trained Live Every Day which was the well supported winner of the Mike Lawlee Memorial Handicap Hurdle at Listowel today.

Walsh's stable 5lbs claiming jockey Ambrose McCurtain had been booked for Live Every Day but received a fall from Daring Decree at Kilbeggan yesterday and missed the ride.

Today's Stewards allowed vastly experienced Russell take the 'spare', seemingly tossing the 'like-for-like' jockey substitution-ruling to one side, and in the race Live Every Day scored by three parts of a length from Hussle Up under another skillfully judged ride from Russell.

Live Every Day opened a 14/1 chance this morning and was returned 7/1 and afterwards Walsh said “he had a nice run in Tipperary in his first handicap which was promising and Davy Russell did the finishing touches today.

"Ambrose (McCurtain) was to be riding him but got a fall in Kilbeggan yesterday and couldn't stand today as he got a kick on the backside.

"My horses were off colour during the winter and we weren't doing much but we seem to be back again. This fellow wants good ground and we'll look for another handicap next."