05 April 2023 , 20:00
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Davy Russell is plotting “one last hurrah” aboard Galvin in the Randox Grand National on Saturday week.
Russell is a dual winner of the world’s greatest steeplechase, having partnered long-time ally Gordon Elliott’s Tiger Roll to National glory in 2018 and 2019.
The 43-year-old, who returned from retirement to compete at last month’s Cheltenham Festival after Cullentra House stable jockey Jack Kennedy suffered a broken leg in January, has not ridden since standing himself down from Elliott’s Conflated in the Gold Cup 20 days ago.
But Russell aims to go out in a blaze of glory aboard Galvin, who finished second to stablemate Delta Work in the Cross Country Chase at Cheltenham last month.
“He’d be a great ride round there and he’s a horse who has been kind to me in the past,” said Russell.
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“I’ve got to get through a couple of checks first and I would need to ride before the National – whether that’s at Aintree or beforehand, I’m not quite sure.
“But the National is a race that means an awful lot to me before Tiger Roll – it means a lot to every jockey – and I’d love to come back for it.”
Elliott, who expects to field up to six of the 40 runners in the big race, said: “If Galvin is there, it’s Davy’s ride if he wants it – I would love to see one last hurrah for him at Aintree.
“I don’t think there would be any better way for him to finish off than in the National – for Davy Russell, and for the whole of horseracing, he deserves a better send off than if he finished at Cheltenham.”