Russell ends illustrious career with Thurles winner

Davy Russell announced his immediate retirement after guiding Liberty Dance home in the Listed mares' novices' hurdle at Thurles for Gordon Elliott.

The three time Irish Champion jockey has had a glittering career that saw him win back-to-back Aintree Grand Nationals on Tiger Roll in 2018 and 2019.

From riding his first point-to-point winner in 1999, Russell has claimed the Irish Champion Hurdle on Solwhit in 2010, the Cheltenham Gold Cup on Lord Windermere in 2014 and the Ryanair Chase on Balko Des Flos in 2018 among a whole host of big-race successes.

Russell was seriously injured in 2020 when falling in the Munster National at Limerick. He sustained a serious neck injury including fractured and dislocated vertebrae that required surgery and a long period of rehabilitation.

He came in for the ride on 6/5 favourite Liberty Dance in race four and she travelled well to pick up the lead two out.

Russell rode her to assert before the last where The Model Kingdom attempted to make a race of it.

She pecked slightly upon landing but soon stormed clear to come in by five and a half lengths from a staying-on Belle The Lioness (13/2). The Model Kingdom (5/4) dropped to third.

Russell said: "it is a special time and it is great to do it here, as Thurles is the centre of our sport and great to do it here. Racing was called off for so long and I had it in my mind to retire when I had my next winner.

"When I broke my neck I got a bit of a shock. People thought I was going to retire but if the injury stopped me fine, but I was happy to do it on my own terms.

"I'll never forget my first winner or will never forget my last but it is hard to get away from Tiger Roll.

"It is testament to my family who never questioned my decisions, albeit how strange at the time they seemed. But I was of the opinion I needed something to push me through the rehabilitation and the best incentive was getting back to ride.

"I didn't decide until the day I was declared to ride a horse again that I was going to come back because it was hard work. The flex in my neck wasn't working properly at the time but I'm good now. I have aches and pains but I'm not going to blame that, it is just time.

"I spoke to Gordon however long ago about retirement and he backed me the whole way. I'm delighted the winner was for Tim (O'Driscoll) who is a big part of the yard."

"I have five children and plenty of work to do. I'd love the romance of training but to start back at zero at 43 years of age would be difficult. It would depend on if the kids wanted to ride in point-to-points or whatever in 10 years time that I might train a few point to pointers or whatever.

"I'm at the very top now and to go back to zero (training) would be tough."

He added: "I dreamed about it (a career as a successful jockey) but never thought my dreams would come to fruition."

Winning owner Tim O'Driscoll said: "I didn't even see her pass the line because I was hugging my wife because we knew this was Davy's last ride. Gordon rang me this morning and said Davy is riding and I said why and he said because hopefully this is going to be his last winner and he will retire.

"I'm more emotional for Edel and the kids, I don't what the horse won by! I went straight and grabbed Edel and said you grab the horse and bring it in."

Paddy Power made Liberty Dance 6/1 from 16/1 for the Mares' Novices' Hurdle.

Additional reporting by Tom Weekes