Davy Russell makes a breakthrough in Grand Steeplechase de Paris
(The Guardian Sports News)

o Jockey realises ambition with victory on chance ride Carriacouo Willie Mullins´ five runners eclipsed by French-trained winnerThe fruitful autumn of Davy Russell´s career continued as he rode Carriacou to win the Grand Steeplechase de Paris, the French equivalent of the Cheltenham Gold Cup. The race was notable for a strong challenge by Willie Mullins, who fielded five runners in an attempt to be the first trainer from Britain or Ireland to take the prize since 1962, but it produced a different kind of Irish success as Russell enjoyed an easy victory just a month short of his 40th birthday.Explaining how he came in for the ride, Russell said: `I only got a phone call, I think on Friday, to see if I could do the weight, and I could thankfully. We´ve watched this race in awe from afar. All through my career I always really wanted to take part in it and never got the opportunity until now. I was really pleased just to have a ride in the race.` Continue reading...