Davy Russell gained swift compensation at the Cheltenham Festival when Mall Dini battled home to victory in the Pertemps Network Final.
Russell had been left fuming in the opening race when he was unseated by Zabana at the start of the JLT Novices’ Chase, but he was all smiles as Mall Dini hung on from Arpege D’Alene and the unfortunate If In Doubt.
Flintham was allowed an easy lead in the 3m contest as only Rolling Maul kept within a few lengths, but the pack closed up after the leader was far from fluent at the third last.
Coming down the hill, Join The Clan took things up jumping two out, but he was soon swamped as If In Doubt encountered trouble in running turning into the straight.
Arpege D’Alene and Rathpatrick were in front on the run to the last, where the former jumped to his left and caused a little bit of interference.
Russell brought Mall Dini between those two and, after initially veering to the left, he kept on well up the hill to beat Arpege D’Alene by three-quarters of a length, with If In Doubt a further head back in third.
