A FAIRY GOOD DAY FOR GORD AND RUSSELL

GORDON ELLIOTT won the Grade 1 Drinmore with Delta Work survived a last fence mistake to complete a great day for the trainer.

The final obstacle troubles caused Davy Russell to lose an iron, before rallying to foil Le Richebourg by a half-length (above).

Elliott earmarked the Neville Hotels Novice Chase (Grade 1) at Leopardstown over Christmas and Cheltenham’s RSA as the two prime targets for Delta Work.

And his trainer commented: “He’s not the biggest or most robust horse. All he does is jump and stay.

“He nearly threw it away at the last, but you’d love the way he fought back.”

Delta Work and Hatton’s Grace winner, Apple’s Jade - the two Grade 1 winners - proved the centrepiece of a superb four-timer for Elliott, initiated when Chief Justice, first leg of a treble for Russell, pipped odds-on stable-companion Coeur Sublime in the Grade 3 juvenile hurdle and completed by highly-regarded, €400,000 purchase Envoi Allen, on his debut, in the bumper. Russell’s third success of the day came on Charles Byrnes’ Wonder Laish in the €100,000 handicap hurdle.

Willie Mullins and Ruby Walsh (inset) combined to win the other Grade 1 on the card - the Royal Bond with even-money favourite Quick Grabim, which made all to beat Triplicate.

Mullins stated: “After the mess we made of it the last day (in Navan), Ruby employed Plan B.

“He was tactically brilliant and caught them on the hop.

“This horse will head for the Grade 1 at Leopardstown over Christmas now.”