A family affair for Russell as he soars to win on final day of Leopardstown
PROCEEDINGS at the Leopardstown Christmas Racing Festival ended with a bang as jockey Davy Russell soared to victory in the Grade One Ryanair Hurdle of €100,000 with Mick Jazz.
It was a shock win for Russell after hot favourite Faugheen suffered the second defeat of his career and allowed Gordon Elliot-trained Mick Jazz to claim the victory.
It was a family affair for Russell in the parade ring following his win. The jockey was joined by his wife Edelle and their children Lily (3) and Finn (2), who looked proud as punch of their father, with Lily greeting him with a hug in the winners’ enclosure.
“It was great. Obviously [with] Faugheen, we were going to be second. I did fancy him to be second because we did well in Fairyhouse but it was great to get the win. He had to be tough to go and pass him,” said Russell.
Spirits were high on the race course for the final day of the festival, although it was more subdued than the previous days.
Bookmaker Marcella McCoy (37) from Co Louth thought this year’s event was a step up from the 2016 festival.
“It’s been a very busy week. Business is up on last year and I think the crowds are up on last year as well.
“Even the weather has been good, you get a good turn-out with the weather. The results have been on the bookies’ side I think,” she said. Marcella, who regularly turns heads at the races with her eye-catching outfits, is also a regular at Cheltenham and at Royal Ascot, but reckons there’s something special about Leopardstown.
“I love Leopardstown, it’s great at Christmas. There’s a great atmosphere here.
“Today was quieter than the other days, but it was very good,” she said.
First time race-goer Leah Ferguson (18) from Rathfarnham was also impressed with proceedings.
“This is my first time coming to the races and I won the first race, so happy days,” she said.
Champion jockey AP McCoy was absent from proceedings as his mother Claire’s funeral took place in Moneyglass, Co Antrim, on Friday, after she passed away on Tuesday.