Mill Quest defies top-weight under Russell

Mill Quest defied top-weight to take the Birthday Greetings Mares Handicap Hurdle under Davy Russell for Gordon Elliott and the Coolglen Syndicate.

Successful at Limerick and Cork last month, the daughter of Milan finished second to Black Key on her most recent start at the Galway Festival.

Sent off the 10/3 favourite this afternoon, she improved to lead from two out, and stretched clear when ridden after the last, going on to score by five and a half lengths. Sinndar Sandy kept on nicely to finish second at 33/1 under Kevin Brouder for Michael Cleary, while Filly Mullins (9/1) was three parts of a length back in third for Mags and Danny Mullins.

Elliott said: "She keeps winning. On her run in Galway she was entitled to win this.

"I'd say we'll probably be going jumping fences sooner rather than later off her mark - she is only 105 over fences. I'd say we will have to go jumping fences, she has the size for it.

"She is probably going to get another 7lb there so we will have to go jumping fences."

Additional reporting by Michael Graham