Grand National legend Davy Russell announces immediate retirement aged 43 after riding one final winner

GRAND NATIONAL legend Davy Russell has announced his immediate retirement from racing.

The dual National hero on the incredible Tiger Roll in 2018 and 2019 retired after one final winner at Thurles on Sunday and said: "I'm not sad - I'm delighted that's it."

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Russell won on Gordon Elliott's Liberty Dance at the Irish racetrack and was mobbed by punters as he rode in.

The 43-year-old hangs up his saddle after an amazing career - and some terrible injuries.

The latest saw him come back from having bolts drilled in his head after breaking his neck.

Russell was given just a ten per cent chance of ever walking again after smashing into the turf in October 2020.

But he fought back, just being denied what would have turned out to be a fairytale Cheltenham Festival goodbye back in March when Delta Work pipped Tiger Roll at the death in the Cross Country.

Liberty Dance's owner Tim O'Driscoll summed up the opinion of many when, speaking after his horse's win, he said: "He's a genius."

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Russell's retirement comes a day after Flat icon Frankie Dettori announced next season will be his last.

Given his age and the dangers inherent in jump racing, Russell had hinted recently the curtain may be coming down on his career.

But it is unusual for a jockey to call it quits mid-season, especially with so many big races still to come.

Russell has found himself supplanted as Elliott's No1 rider by Jack Kennedy.

INCREDIBLE DUO WITH TIGER ROLL

It means his 2020 win on Chosen Mate in the Grand Annual will go down as his final Festival triumph.

He rode 22 winners at the March meet in all, including the 2014 Gold Cup on Lord Windermere.

That was the same year Tiger Roll won the Triumph - the start of an incredible partnership between the pair.

Russell told Racing TV: "It's a mighty day, it's great to get a winner for Gordon, he's been so important to my career.

"I've been thinking about retiring since they opened me up in Dublin a couple of years ago (after the fall).

"This year was so enjoyable, it's been so much fun, I've had a couple of falls and I'm sore but I could have kept going.

"It just felt this was the time.

"There was no point in everybody saying why I'm not retired, I'd rather they wonder 'why is he retiring?' I've been riding well.

'I'M NOT SAD'

"I never lost my bottle, that was the most important part of it.

"Jack, Sam (Ewing), Jordan (Gainford) and Denis O'Regan have been fantastic. My gap will be filled pretty quick by one of them

"It's great to see and I never had a cross word with any of them, they never wondered why it wasn't them, they waited and hopefully they can grab it with both hands.

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"I'm delighted. I'm not sad. I'm delighted that's it."

In a statement, he added: "The truth is I’ve never actually worked a day in my life."

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