Feenakilmeedy and Davy Russell are clear over the final hurdle© Photo Healy Racing
Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Davy Russell stayed in the winning vein on his return to Ireland following his fabulous final day at the Festival meeting.
The champion jockey, who landed a hat-trick at Prestbury Park including on Lord Windermere in the blue riband, had three mounts for Charles Byrnes at Limerick and scored on Feenakilmeedy in the Munster Supporters Club Mares Maiden Hurdle.
Narrowly beaten on her last appearance at the track, though since well behind at Fairyhouse, she was sent off the evens favourite and after leading nearing the second-last, she quickened away to score by a heavily eased two lengths.
Russell looked set to open his account in the Student Raceday 9th & 10th April Maiden Hurdle when the odds-on Kerrieonvic travelled sweetly up to the lead, but the Mark Fahey-trained Golden Plan (7-1) answered every call from Shane Butler and kept going to win by a length.
The top jockey was out of luck on another odds-on shot in the Tote Jackpot (C & G) Maiden Hurdle when Lord Adare jinked alarmingly going to the second-last and handed the advantage to John Murphy's Todd (12-1), who held on by three-quarters of a length under David Splaine.
There wasn't much in the form book to suggest Gone Bust would be a force in the www.thetote.com Handicap Hurdle, but Martin Cullinane's 33-1 shot joined issue at the second-last and ran on strongly under Adrian Heskin to win by three and a quarter lengths.
A better jump two out by Sir Harry Cash proved decisive as Eric McNamara's 8-1 shot, ridden by Shane Shortall, beat Makethedifference by four lengths in the Family Day 30th March Handicap Hurdle.
The card concluded with two bumpers, Poker School (6-1) making virtually all under Nina Carberry to take the Munster INH Flat Race and Ardnahoe (10-1) pouncing to land the Croom Mares INH Flat Race in the hands of Katie Harrington.
