Death Duty regains footing for debut win at Tipperary

Death Duty made a winning debut over fences at Tipperary – but it was not without incident.

It was not a blemish-free round by Gordon Elliott’s highly regarded six-year-old as he jumped a little ponderously early on and made one significant error in the Tipperary Races Beginners Chase.

However, once Davy Russell decided to send him into a clear lead there was a notable improvement in his jumping.

Cap D’Aubois, a useful hurdler in his own right, tracked him throughout, with Inis Meain the only other serious competitor.

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Huge engine

But Death Duty demonstrated on more than one occasion last year that he possesses a huge engine, and after a slow leap at the last he needed to show it again.

Ruby Walsh spotted that Elliott's Grade One-winning hurdler had slowed up going into the last, and whereas Cap D'Aubois flew over it, Death Duty landed on all fours.

Russell briefly had to shake up the 1-5 favourite, but he quickened up efficiently and won cosily by three-quarters of a length.