12 January 2023 , 14:45
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Davy Russell has insisted his surprise return to the saddle is only temporary, but has not ruled out riding at the Cheltenham Festival.
Russell, 43, made the shock announcement on Wednesday night that he would be back in action at Fairyhouse on Saturday having said he was quitting the saddle for good after riding a winner at Thurles on December 18.
His primary reason was to come to the aid of Gordon Elliott with stable jockey Jack Kennedy facing a number of weeks on the sidelines after he broke his leg for the fifth time at the weekend.
But he has emphasised that he would be heading back into retirement as soon as Kennedy, who was leading the Irish jump jockeys championship at the time of the injury, returned.
“How’s the retirement going? It was going great until last weekend when Jack’s spill changed everything,” Russell said in his Star Sports blog.
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“It was terrible to lose a lovely horse in Top Bandit and then for Jack to have broken his leg made things even worse for the yard. He hasn’t half had some rotten luck and that’s the fifth time he’s broken his leg – crazy for one so young.
“As I said in my announcement yesterday, we are a close team in Cullentra so when Gordon asked me the question if I’d come back and help ride a few as they needed me, there was only ever going to be one answer.
“The timing of Jack’s accident is bad. These things are never good, but if it had happened let’s say two or three months later, there would have been no decision to make.
Jack Kennedy: out for several weeks with a broken leg“There are so many young talented pilots in Gordon’s and their days will come for sure. It’s just a bit early for some of the more high-profile horses and that’s where I am happy to help.”
Russell, who has ridden 25 Cheltenham Festival winners and won the Grand National twice on Tiger Roll, has rides at Fairyhouse on Saturday and Punchestown on Sunday and could be involved at Cheltenham in March, depending on Kennedy’s situation.
He said: “Plenty have asked whether I’ll be at Cheltenham, will I go to Aintree? How long will this comeback last? Listen, this is no comeback or U-turn. I’m simply filling in for Jack and when he’s ready to return, I’ll step away again.
“That may be before Cheltenham, that may be after Cheltenham. The key is I’m there to help a team that has always had my back. That’s why I’ve made the decision to return.”