'Lovely feeling' as Russell returns with winner

Davy Russell ended a tortuous 342-days injury spell today as the three-time Champion Jockey teamed up with old ally Gordon Elliott to win Navan's Bar One Racing Double The Odds Maiden Hurdle on Chemical Energy (4/7f).

Russell fractured and dislocated vertebrae in a first fence fall from Doctor Duffy in Limerick's Munster National last October with his recovery, which took 11 months, initially necessitating realign of his spine.

Russell, 42, yesterday returned to race-riding at Downpatrick with two runner-up rides and today won with ready 11 lengths winner Chemical Energy.

Russell was the latest high-profile name to return to winning ways this week, following Elliott's return from suspension and jockey Jack Kennedy's return, from a rib injury, with Elliott's earlier Navan winner Weseekhimthere.

Following the race, Russell reported “that was lovely. It was heartening to get such a nice reception when I came back in. My mother is from this part of the country so my uncles used to always come racing here in the past. It's a great place.

"It's a lovely feeling when you cross the line. It's a relief, if anything, and at least I can still do it anyway. I feel great, super, and got through Downpatrick no problem.

"He (Chemical Energy) jumped great. He was a big, raw horse last year but he's strengthened up into a grand horse now.”

Elliott added “it's great for Davy to come back on a winner, obviously he's a big part of the team.

“He's not a bad horse. I wasn't sure about him staying but it definitely looked like he stayed. He had a little blow so he'll definitely come on from that.

“We'll try and find a novice hurdle for him now. The owners are from England so I wouldn't be shocked if he ended up going over there for something. I'd say he doesn't want heavy ground.”

Quotes from Gary Carson