Just what the Doctor ordered

DOCTOR PHOENIX produced a careerbest performance to win the Bar One Racing Dan Moore Memorial Handicap Chase at Fairyhouse.

Having just his fourth run for Gordon Elliott since being bought by Nicky Bradley Racing for only £10,000, he looks a bigger bargain than ever now.

Second on his debut for the yard at Cork in October, he then won at the Mallow venue before a bad mistake cost him at Fairyhouse in December.

Nursed into the race inside the final three furlongs in typical Davy Russell style, he bounded clear after the last to beat Kilcarry Bridge, who tried to make all the running, by nine lengths.

Russell (above) said: ‘He was a great purchase by Mouse O’Ryan and the team.

‘The ease in the ground and the good gallop helped but I had a job to get by John Ryan’s horse (Kilcarry Bridge).

‘He’s won a big pot now so they can’t complain about much.”

The 13-2 chance, who holds an entry in the Queen Mother Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, completed a Fairyhouse double for Elliott and Russell after the earlier victory of Mitchouka.

Elliott said: ‘He only cost 10 grand so if he never wins another race its job done.

‘He’s a two-miler and he loved coming off a fast gallop. If you don’t bully him early he’ll arrive late on. Nick (Bradley) is ballsy enough with his entries but if it’s up to me we would be looking at a little conditions race.’

Mitchouka, meanwhile, defied a penalty to beat stablemate Veneer Of Charm in the Promote Your Business At Fairyhouse In 2018 Hurdle.

The winner was paying a compliment to Gavin Cromwell’s juvenile Espoir D’Allen, who has beaten Mitchouka on his last two outings.

Meanwhile, Danny Hand was seen to good effect on Dermot McLoughlin’s Dromore Lad and Grade Onewinning hurdler Saturnas landed the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Beginners Chase.