ON A ROLL Russell still has eye of the tiger

After Grand National success and with a third Irish title certain, Cork’s finest only seems to be getting better with age

DEEP in the Loire Valley last Saturday, Ferdy Murphy raised a glass in acknowledgment as Davy Russell and Tiger Roll kept their noses in front at the winning post in the Grand National. For Murphy, victory was a vindication of sorts for the National that got away in 2006 when heavy overnight rain at Aintree spoilt the chances of his horse, Joe’s Edge, in the great race. He can still recall Russell’s resolve that day, somehow cajoling Joe’s Edge into seventh place behind Numbersixvalverde on ground that was against him.

‘Davy came in after the race and felt he’d been cheated because of the rain. He felt gutted,’ said Murphy. ‘I remember saying to my brother, “He’ll keep coming back here until he wins, and he’ll carry the horse over the line if he has to”. Last Saturday, he did just that. I was delighted for him.’

Wicklow native Murphy oversaw a hugely successful training operation in Yorkshire for many years before relocating to France in 2013. He saddled 10 winners at the Cheltenham Festival, won the 2004 Irish National with Granit D’Estruval, three Scottish Grand Nationals and was second in the 2003 Gold Cup with Truckers Tavern.

His competitive operation enticed a rookie pro, formerly known as the amateur, Mr DN Russell, to his yard in 2002. There were no silver spoons in Middleham and not all survived the challenging internship — Russell did.

‘Davy had raw ability when he was very young,’ said Murphy. ‘We had a lot of lads and we worked them hard. Davy stood out for his drive and determination. He was smart too. When he knew he was meeting someone, he’d have read up on them beforehand.’

‘When Davy first rode at Cheltenham, I said to him “don’t be looking around at the crowds. Think of this as being at Doneraile or Tallow for a Point-to-Point and you’ve a job to do”, which he did, and still does.’

Russell served his time at Middleham but not before an incident on the gallops which could have ended in disaster.

‘I was driving down the gallops in the Land Rover one morning and when I looked out the window, I saw Davy asleep on Truckers Tavern at the front,’ recalled Murphy.

‘In one way, it wasn’t surprising as he was the easiest horse to ride.’

Did Murphy let out a roar? ‘No, I didn’t want to upset the horse. I figured Davy would wake up pretty soon and he did.’

Russell has kept his wits about him since. He has had to, to remain competitive at an age when most jockeys have called it a day and while he doesn’t intend to overstay his welcome in silks, he has no plans to retire. That’s a plus for Russell is a much-valued hero of racing, and Irish sport too.

This season, the rewards have been astonishing — top jockey at the Cheltenham Festival for the first time, a highly-cherished Grand National win on his career CV and a third Irish champion jockey’s title.

To tick off the first two feats as his 39th birthday approaches in June is testament to Russell’s durability and that drive which Murphy recognised in his early days. As he has got older, he has continued to improve.

‘Nobody rides Cheltenham better than Davy. His ride on Lord Windermere in the Gold Cup was a case in point. For the big races, at Punchestown, Cheltenham, Aintree or Fairyhouse, Davy is always able to detach himself from the occasion and ride the race the right way.’

The native of Youghal has been obsessed by horses and horse racing since he could barely walk. The first word he spoke was ‘horsey,’ according to his Dad, Jerry.

He wasn’t a child prodigy like Ruby Walsh or a stylist like Barry Geraghty, rather a grafter from the amateur ranks, who shared car journeys with Gordon Elliott, among others, in his early days.

To put Russell’s slow-burning career in context, when he recorded his first winner as a pro in November 2002 at sleepy Sedgefield, Walsh had been champion jockey twice and claimed the Grand National on Papillon.

Geraghty was also a speck in the distance, having won the Irish title and booted home Moscow Flyer at Cheltenham Festival. Russell wasn’t on anyone’s radar. By the time of the acclaimed 2012 documentary ‘Jump Boys’, Russell was established among the ‘Class of ’79’ which included Walsh (two months older) and Geraghty (three months younger).

In the fly-on-the-wall programme, Russell revealed more of his inner self than either Walsh or Geraghty. He was also the only one of the three to strip naked for the cameras.

At the time, Russell was the retained pilot for Gigginstown House and not everything in the saddle he touched turned to gold. More than once, he picked the wrong horse.

‘I sometimes get panicky when it comes to decisions. I’d rather not have to make it,’ he said. ‘Second sucks. Second is no good. Not in this game.’

Russell won his first Irish title that 2011/12 campaign, but his irritation at himself and where he wanted to go was palpable.

‘I want to be really good, like. I want to win every race I’ve been in,’ he said. ‘Sometimes you ride horses and you get things wrong and you know you are getting things wrong. And you are thinking “Jaysus, why can’t I stop doing those things? Am I wasting my time

Davy’s visit on Christmas morning was more important than Santa

here?” I’m working on it.’ The work has paid off as Russell has become better with age while retaining his sense of humour and the enduring respect of his weighroom peers. When Brian O’Connell was bullied by John McCririck on Channel Four for a ride at the Cheltenham Festival in 2010, Russell responded in kind.

While in his moment of glory at Aintree last week, he first thoughts in victory were for Flat comrade Pat Smullen who is fighting cancer — followed by a bucket of water over the head of his gasping steed.

At a time where an increasing number of Irish sports-folk are either inaccessible, inarticulate or insipid with their answers, Russell remains a refreshing presence, never afraid to say what he thinks, or shying away when the going gets tough.

He has also achieved the near miracle of falling out with Ryanair chief Michael O’Leary and making up. When the split happened over the infamous cup of tea on New Year’s Eve 2013, it could have been curtains as an elite jockey, but Murphy reckoned it proved the making of Russell.

‘Losing the Gigginstown job might have finished men of lesser steel,’ he said. ‘Davy would have stewed over that for a few days and then said to himself “I’ll prove any doubters wrong”. Which he has.

‘If I was an aspiring jockey in Britain or Ireland, I’d seek as much knowledge as I can on Davy and how he goes about his business. The jockey training course in Kildare should have him in every year to offer advice on becoming a suc-

cessful jockey.’

One of those who has watched and learnt is Jonathan Burke, a fellow East Cork local. ‘Davy was, and is, a massive role model for me,’ said Burke.

‘My earliest memories are of him coming to our yard every Christmas morning and riding out for my father (Liam) — he lived only a couple of miles away. I would have been nine or 10 back then and to me, Davy’s visit was more important than Santa.’

Burke, 22, has got up close to Russell as a rival jock and holds him in the highest regard. ‘When I started riding competitively, I felt Davy was as mentally tough as anyone in the weigh-room. That hasn’t changed.

‘He doesn’t panic no matter what the situation is, whether Plan A, Plan B or Plan C is out the window; he never loses his ability to think straight.

‘He’s got great patience and total awareness, especially on a big stage. To me, he’s the complete package.’

Burke felt Russell was right to kick on with Tiger Roll at Aintree last Saturday after the last fence and even though the margin was a dwindling head to Pleasant Company on the line, he described it was ‘a masterful ride.’

Over the years Burke has witnessed how Russell keeps people on side, not by being a yes man, but by displaying respect, reliability and frankness, when it is needed.

‘Davy’s a great pool of owners and trainers who trust him and he keeps everyone happy. He’s quiet in the weigh-room but enjoys a laugh. He’s wellliked, a great fellah to be around,’ Burke added.

This week at Punchestown, Russell would be entitled to accept the good wishes of punters who want to shake his hand and say ‘Well done, Davy boy’. He could take his eye off the ball, but that’s not his way.

As champion-elect, he has a responsibility to that title to perform. He is expected to deliver for those trainers, big and small, who have booked him to ride their horses.

‘It’s me against myself,’ he said in 2012 of the time when he is on the horse. ‘The minute it’s over, you’re a different person.’ It still is.

For Russell, the chit-chat can wait until Saturday’s final flag fall of the National Hunt season. Only then, can he return to being a doting Dad to his four kids, loving husband to Edelle, and join his family and friends in a rousing rendition of ‘Up The Youghal Girl’ as champagne is sprayed about the ring.

Falling asleep on the job? No chance.