PAT HEALY: In his latest blog Pat reflects on Davy Russell’s retirement, Frankie Dettori’s impending retirement and an impressive round from the Gold Cup favourite Galopin Des Champs …
Davy Russell
It was great that Davy got out on his own terms on Sunday in Thurles. He has cemented his place as an icon in the sport and his CV is one that all young jockeys will look up to – two Grand Nationals, a Gold Cup and three Champion Jockey titles. His association with Tiger Roll will go down in folklore too.
To have all his family – his dad Jerry, his wife Edelle, his sisters and his five kids – there was obviously an emotional moment for him, but it was richly deserved.
I was lucky enough to photograph his first winner in a Point-to-Point, back in 1999, and I was lucky to photograph his last winner yesterday.
I’m also lucky enough to know him. He’s a character, we’ve been out socially and he’s always great for the banter and the craic.
Davy doesn’t drink, but he famously failed a breathalyser test in Listowel back in the day. It was put down to the mouthwash he was using, but we always laugh about that one.
He’s part of that golden generation of jockeys that were plying their trade a few years ago – Ruby Walsh, Barry Geraghty, Tony McCoy and Richard Johnson. The wheel goes round now and he hands the baton over to Jack Kennedy.
If Jack can stay in one piece, riding all of Gordon Elliott’s horses, it’ll be a tall order at the minute for Paul Townend to claw back the lead he’s built up in the Jockeys’ Championship.
Davy’s one of the most knowledgeable riders around and I wouldn’t be surprised to see the media using him more now that he’s retired. On those Cheltenham preview nights he lights up the arena.
We wish him all the best for the future.
Dettori retirement news
There was of course more retirement news last week, when we heard that Frankie Dettori plans to hang up his boots at the end of 2023.
It’ll be tough for racing to say goodbye to Frankie. He’s a superstar that transcends the sport and has given so much to racing.
Hopefully 2023 will be a great swansong year for him. I’ll certainly be keeping my fingers crossed he can make it to the Listowel Harvest Festival next year – what a day that would be!
Galopin Des Champs
I thought Galopin Des Champs idled a bit or perhaps didn’t stand out from the crowd on the first circuit in the John Durkan, but when Paul Townend gave him a couple of squeezes to go about his job he was awful, awful impressive.
He’s such an exciting animal and could be anything. I’m looking forward to seeing him again and to see if he can avenge his Cheltenham mishap from last year, when he was going to put Bob Olinger in his place.
It was also great to see Appreciate It make an impressive debut over fences. He completed a treble on the day at Punchestown for Willie Mullins and slowly but surely we are getting into the time when Willie begins to turn the screw when it comes to the stars in his Closutton stable. It’ll be interesting to see how many winners he saddles over Christmas this year.
First winners
Both Sean Stafford and Ivan Ryan rode their first winners at Tattersalls Point-to-Point on Sunday.
Sean was having his first ride on Rose Of Kalanisi in the mares’ maiden – so he didn’t have to wait long for his first winner!
Then it was the turn of 18-year-old Ivan Ryan, who rode Lillys Girl to success in the closing maiden.
Best of luck to those two going forward.
Until next week.
PAT
