Davy Russell
DOB: June 27, 1979
David Niall Russell hails from Youghal in Co. Cork and progressed from pony racing to become one of Ireland’s leading point-to-point riders in recent years, winning the championship in 2001 and 2002, sharing the title with J T McNamara.
In 2002 he moved to Britain and became stable jockey to Ferdy Murphy and had turned professional on the 12th November that year. He enjoyed his first big success when Truckers Tavern won the 2003 Peter Marsh Chase at Haydock and went on to be second to Best Mate in the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Russell was replaced by Murphy after 14 months as he wanted to continue riding in Ireland at weekends. Consequently he returned to Ireland in January 2004 and had his first Cheltenham Festival victory two years later in 2006 when Native Jack won the BGC Handicap Chase.
A year later he went on to win the William Hill Trophy Handicap Chase at the 2007 Festival on 50/1 chance Joes Edge. Although Davy finished second to Ruby Walsh in the last three Irish Jockeys’ Championship, he has continued to have big race success on both sides of the Irish Sea, including a brace of winners at the 2008 Cheltenham Festival, Naiad Du Misselot in the Coral Cup and Tiger Cry in the Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Chase.
Cheltenham Festival Wins (5):
5. Glenfarclas: 2006 Native Jack
William Hill: 2007 Joes Edge
Coral Cup: 2008 Naiad Du Misselot
Johnny Henderson Grand Annual: 2008 Tiger Cry
Albert Bartlett: 2009 Weapons Amnesty
