‘Racing is what we're born and reared to do'

Davy Russell reflects on Ireland’s dominance at this year’s Festival

- Jennifer Donald

I WAS gutted to have to sit out this year’s Festival, having broken my neck in October, but there were some great highlights to enjoy.

Of course, all the headlines have been about Rachael Blackmore as leading jockey of the Festival with six winners. She really is the complete package – she’s very brave, she has a marvellous pair of hands, she can suss out a race and seems to get into just the right position early in proceedings. Even when she looks as if she’d struggle, all of a sudden she’s in the box seat.

Like me this year, jockey Jack Kennedy was out injured last year and he missed the Festival but he came back brilliantly to ride four winners, including in the Gold Cup.

Then for Henry de Bromhead to train the winners of three championship races – the Champion Hurdle and the Queen Mother Champion Chase with the fillies, Honeysuckle and Put The Kettle On, and the Gold Cup with Minella Indo, is a huge achievement and a credit to his training ability.