GRAND NATIONAL WINNER
Jockey Davy Russell is horse racing’s tough guy with a soft heart
London — Davy Russell’s first thoughts after recording his greatest win in a thrilling Grand National were not for himself but for fellow jockey Pat Smullen, recently diagnosed with a tumour. "This one is for Pat Smullen," he said. "The man is tough as nails so this one’s for Pat," said the 38-year-old. Russell cracked the great steeplechase at the 14th attempt, keeping diminutive Tiger Roll’s nose in front of the charging Pleasant Company on Saturday. His tough-guy image earned him the wrong type of headlines when he was caught on camera last August punching a horse who was having trouble in lining up for a race — he earned a four-day ban for that offence. "There was no anger involved," he said at his hearing. "There was no malice. I had no anger towards the filly. It was a matter of trying to get her back under control and trying to get her to pay attention." However, such blows have only energised Russell to bounce back and it is ironic that Tiger Roll is owned by Ryanair chief M...
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