Jockey Davy Russell is the eighth celebrity to join the upcoming series of RTÉ's Dancing with the Stars.
A Grand National-winning and Cheltenham Cup-winning jockey, Russell's journey in professional racing took off in 2002.
His most high-profile victories include the Gold Cup in 2014 and an impressive three wins in the Coral Cup.
In 2018, he won the 2018 Grand National at Aintree and the year after, he won the Grand National again with the same horse, becoming the first jockey since Brian Fletcher in 1974 to win back-to-back Grand Nationals on the same horse.
On joining Dancing with the Stars, Russell says: "It's exciting. And it's so very different to what I'm used to; it's a new venture. It’s really hard to keep it a secret from friends and family.
"I have itchy fingers and I'm ready to pull the trigger.
"My wife always told me we need to get dancing lessons before our wedding. I said no, and now I'm regretting this decision," he said.
Despite a brief hiatus in 2020 after a fall, Davy continued to ride until he retired in December 2022, but soon after came out of retirement to stand in for another jockey who broke his leg and was unable to ride. He went on to win at Punchestown and permanently retired from the sport earlier this year.
Already announced to take part in the upcoming series of Dancing with the Stars are former Miss World Rosanna Davison, newsreader Eileen Dunne, Wild Youth singer David Whelan, drag queen superstar Blu Hydrangea and TikTok sensation Miriam Mullins.
Also vying for the glitterball trophy will be 2FM and Ireland's Fittest Family presenter Laura Fox and Fair City actor Shane Quigley Murphy.
Three more names will be revealed this week to complete the line-up.
The new season returns to RTÉ One and RTÉ Player in January 2024.
