Returning Russell rides Munster National Day winner

Davy Russell left Limerick racecourse a winner today a year on from his horror Munster National fall, steering Vado Forte to win the www.angloprinters.ie Rated Chase and complete a treble for trainer Gordon Elliott.

Russell's first fence fall from Doctor Duffy in the 2020 Munster National, last October 11, left the three-times Champion Jockey with fractures to three vertebrae with the resulting complicated recovery necessitating 11 months on the sidelines.

Russell today registered his fifth winner since returning to action in September with Vado Forte, his only ride of the weekend, which raced prominently throughout and beat January Jets by 15 lengths.

Afterwards Elliott, earlier successful with Off Your Rocco and Kruzhlinin stated &ldquo: "We thought he'd run well but didn't think he'd do that. He will be a good fun horse and we're delighted with him. I was worried about the trip but he could come back and could go over hurdles too.

“He is a good fun horse and Simon (McGonagle), my head man, owns him with two local publicans who gave a few quid for him so it great for them all.”