TRAINER Charles Byrnes and jockey Davy Russell were the toast of punters when bashing the bookies with a heavily-backed 42-1 treble at Roscommon.
War Anthem, Mr Smith and Top Of the Town all did the business for the County Limerick handler in convincing fashion.
“After Galway we needed it. I did my brains in at Galway with Sea Light and Crystal Pearl,” said Byrnes.
“That’s my first treble. It’s just the way it happened. I wouldn’t say I planned it.
“I had a bunch of horses come into form and I put them in together. It was the last couple of weeks I was able to put it together. Long-term it would be impossible to plan.”
The first leg was landed by War Anthem (6-1), who barely had to break sweat in taking the Paul Byron Shoes Maiden Hurdle by three and a quarter lengths from William B.
Byrnes said: “The man (Russell) is a genius.
“He travelled lovely and jumped well. Brilliant. He had been schooling well. We’ll tip away with him now.”
Mr Smith (7-4 favourite) also enjoyed a smooth success, coming home four and a quarter lengths clear from Tb Broke Her in the J.F. Hanley Handicap Hurdle.
“They are going well. We’ve straightened up a bit after Galway as we were on our knees!” said Byrnes.
“Davy’s a deadly man. He pushed his way through on the rail all the way down the back.”
Top Of The Town (5-4 favourite) capped a red-letter day for the Byrnes team when completing the treble with a five-length call over Russian Roulette in the Class Grass Handicap Hurdle.
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