Lackaneen Leader brought up an opening race double for Gordon Elliott as Davy Russell got the 2/1 favourite home in the Fairyhouse Easter Festival 1st-3rd April Mares Maiden Hurdle.

Keith Donoghue rode Elliott's earlier winner, Commentariolus and here Russell had to stoke up Lackaneen Leader as Lareena threw down a big challenge from between the final two.

Both of them met the last right, and Lackaneen Leader stayed on best to ward off Willie Mullins' Lareena (11/4 second market choice) by three parts of a length.

"She's a good honest mare. She wants a trip, and probably wants three miles, but she tries," commented Elliott.

"She jumps fences great as well so she'll be jumping fences sooner rather than later. That was great and it's nice she's won.

"Her jumping over the last two really stood to her."

A.W. Short, rider of Elzaa (GB), trained by Adrian McAllister, reported to the Stewards' Secretaries that his mount stumbled in running for no apparent reason and unseated him.

(GC & EM)