Davy Russell has announced his retirement from the saddle after a win at Thurles this afternoon.
The 43-year-old was a two-time winner of the Grand National on Tiger Roll and claimed 22 victories at Cheltenham, including the Gold Cup on Lord Windemere in 2014.
Russell came out on top on Liberty Dance for Gordon Elliott in a mare's maiden hurdle and immediately announced he was bringing his legendary career to an end.
He said: "It is a special time and it is great to do it here, as Thurles is the centre of our sport and it's great to do it here," he said.
"Racing was called off for so long and I had it in my mind to retire when I had my next winner.
"When I broke my neck I got a bit of a shock. People thought I was going to retire – if the injury stopped me fine, but I was happy to do it on my own terms.
"It is testament to my family who never questioned my decisions, albeit how strange at the time they seemed. But I was of the opinion I needed something to push me through the rehabilitation and the best incentive was getting back to ride.
"I didn’t decide until the day I was declared to ride a horse again that I was going to come back because it was hard work. The flex in my neck wasn’t working properly at the time, but I’m good now. I have aches and pains, but I’m not going to blame that, it is just time.
"I have five children and plenty of work to do. I’d love the romance of training, but to start back at zero at 43 years of age would be difficult. It would depend on if the kids wanted to ride in point to points or whatever in 10 years’ time that I might train a few point to pointers or whatever.
"I’m at the very top now and to go back to zero (training) would be tough."
He added: "I dreamed about it (a career as a successful jockey), but never thought my dreams would come to fruition.
"I’ll never forget my first winner or forget my last, but it is hard to get away from Tiger Roll."
Gordon Elliott said he is "delighted" to see Davy Russell retire from the saddle on his own terms
He added: "The feedback he gave has always been invaluable. He has been a big part of the team here at Cullentra for the last 10 or 12 years - and he is still going to be part of the team.
"He's still going to have an involvement. Hopefully we will work closely with him, on what level we are just not quite sure yet, but he will still have something to do with it."
Russell has been instrumental in helping Elliott's rise to prominence over the last decade and the trainer was quick to pay tribute.
"He has been a big part of my team since I started training and he has been a friend as well as a colleague. I rode with him as an amateur," said Elliott.
"He has been as much as a friend as anything else. He is a brilliant jockey and a great person. I'm sad to see him retiring but delighted to see him going out on his own terms.
"He's a brilliant jockey and a great horseman. He could do things on horses that other people couldn't.
"There was never anything wrong with the bottle. The body slowed down, but the bottle was 100 per cent and so it is very sad to see him go.
"He has brilliant hands and transmitted confidence to a horse, and you only have to look at what he has achieved to see what a great jockey he was. He was brilliant."
