Russell excels on Elusive Rebeldom

After bolting before the start when withdrawn on his last racecourse visit, Elusive Rebeldom (25s into 16s) put things right in today’s Final Festival Ticket Deal Ends Soon Maiden Hurdle at Punchestown.

That previous unfortunate experience occurred at Limerick on January 30th and it prompted trainer Gordon Elliott to put a hood on the Elusive Pimpernel gelding here.

Davy Russell delivered the five-year-old perfectly down the inner in the straight to defeat The Broghie Man by two and three parts of a length. It was the same distance then to Goaheadwiththeplan in third.

Favourite Sompteux (5/2 into 6/4) disappointed in twelfth.

“He ran well in a couple of bumpers but that was Davy Russell at his best — he gave him a brilliant ride. He said if he was beaten he’d have been very unlucky as he got stopped at the second last," said Elliott.

“He’s a good fun horse and will hopefully win his fair share of races.

“It was a windy enough day the last day (at Cork) and when he was hacking out the wind caught him and he ran away and did a lap of the course. He is a bit keen but he’d shot his bolt before the race started.”

C.D. Maxwell, rider of Shortcross Storm trained by J.G.Cosgrave, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount hated the underfoot conditions.

The Stewards requested a report from Gordon Elliott, trainer, as to the apparent improvement in form of Elusive Rebeldom, placed first, as compared with its recent run.

Gordon Elliot reported that his charge ran well to the end of the back straight at Cork before losing his place and since then he was withdrawn at Limerick on the 30th January having bolted on the way to the start.

Today a hood was fitted and this had the desired effect by allowing the animal to settle and be produced with a run in the closing stages.

Having considered the evidence the Stewards noted the content of the report.

(AM & EM)