Davy Russell moved onto the 33 winner mark, ten behind this season's current joint top jump jockeys Paul Carberry and Andrew McNamara, when partnering Knockfierna to take the www.racinghomeforeaster.com Mares Novice Hurdle.
The Charles Byrnes-trained mare was easy in the market (13/8-5/2) as all the money came for Our Victoria who was punted down from 100/30 to 9/4 market leader.
However favourite backers knew they were in trouble as Davy Condon got no response when hard at work approaching the straight.
Russell sent his mount to the front three out, and she stayed on really well from before the last to beat Golden Sunbird by three and a half lengths.
Outsider Mayo Mystique (33/1) was a further four lengths back in third, while Our Victoria was soundly beaten in fifth.
Byrnes is attending the HRI Awards luncheon in Leopardstown but Russell commented: “She did it well, and it was a good performance giving a nice bit of weight to the second. The ground is not too bad, and I'd say it's just on the yielding side.”
