Grand National winner Davy Russell has said that the relief of not being the first to go on Dancing with the Stars is spurring him on in the competition.
On Sunday's Movie Week, the Cork man and his professional dance partner Kylee Vincent will perform a Star Wars-inspired Charleston to the Star Wars Theme/Cantina Band.
He has been enjoying his best days so far in training - having realised that the scoreboard does not carry over every week in the competition.
"Definitely the first elimination was a worry - and as the show [last week] was going on with the comments it was a huge worry! I would have been devastated if I was the first to go!" Russell told RTÉ Entertainment.
"Now, I can go and just go! Go and whatever it is, it is! If I get another week out of it, super! If I get another week out of it, super! Just keep trying, keep trying to learn bits and trying to improve. And if I'm improving...
"If I was disimproving every week and getting worse and worse and worse, I suppose it wouldn't be as enjoyable anyway! Do you know what I mean? Now, I'm getting a little bit [better] every week and I'm actually having more fun with Kylee. I'm having more fun with everybody and it's just nicer."
Russell's dance partner Kylee Vincent saluted him after last week's show, saying: "Davy only knows 100% and [I'm] so proud of him."
The Cheltenham legend beams about the impact that Vincent has on him - he's even bringing her skills as a teacher to training his own children with their horses at home.
"I feel for her because she's the professional and I was a professional. I wouldn't like to jeopardise her ability, that I would be badly exposing her, you know?" he said.
"I have to give 100% for her because she is such an utter professional that it just wouldn't be fair. And that's the reason why I have to try really, really hard - and she sees that I'm trying and just has a brilliant way of teaching. She just really has 'got' me.
"I suppose nobody ever gives 100% - I've found that out in life! - and I'm sure there's a little bit more I can squeeze out of myself.
"I feel I have improved from the first week to now. I'm very confident there's more improvement there... Just turn up on time and give it as much time as I can and that's it!"
Dancing with the Stars, Sundays, RTÉ One and RTÉ Player, 6:30pm
