Jockey Davy Russell reflects on Ireland’s dominance at this year’s Cheltenham Festival
I WAS gutted to have to sit out this year’s Cheltenham 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.
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"}
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This exclusive column is also available to read in this week’s issue of Horse & Hound magazine, on sale Thursday 25 March
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H&H showjumping editor
Jennifer is passionate at showjumping and her role as H&H’s showjumping editor has taken her around the world reporting from shows and interviewing riders, connections and those involved behind the scenes. Since joining H&H from BBC Sport in 2005, she has written on every subject across the equestrian sphere — from turnout rugs to stable management — and has interviewed gold medallists, world champions and winners galore. She also has first-hand experience of working in the equestrian industry as a riding instructor and yard manager.
