‘Lucinda Russell proved she's marvellous’

Davy Russell signs off again from the sport on a winning high at Aintree

- Jennifer Donald

TO have the opportunity to ride such exceptional horses at Aintree in my last few days in the sport was really special. Winning a double of Grade Ones on Irish Point and Gerri Colombe was very pleasing and, looking back, continuing on beyond the Cheltenham Festival was the right thing to do.

Sometimes it doesn’t work out and I was happy enough to take my punishment after Cheltenham, but Gordon Elliott and my wife Edelle were adamant that it would be better if I finished on a better note, and they were right!

Unfortunately, my Grand National chances were lost at the first fence – which was entirely my own fault. A couple of strides out, I was happy enough, but then two horses to my side squeezed in and my horse Galvin just didn’t fully see the fence. That horse is a true professional, so it was just unfortunate.

There were a load of things going through my head as I hit the ground – my first thought, of course, was whether Galvin had got up OK, which he had. I checked I wasn’t too sore – I still had Pour Les Filles to ride in the bumper, my final ride.