Name: David Russell
Age: 20
From: Tipperary, Co. Tipperary
It was a red letter day at Comea for Tipperary native David Russell who partnered his first career win aboard the Enda Bolger trainer Albaquirky.
How did you get involved with horses?
We have always had horses at home, we breed them here on our stud farm. I started in the pony club and did a bit of hunting when I was younger.
Then at the start of covid I went down to my Uncle Paul McEnery who is a small trainer, he then got me going on racehorses.
I started going into Fozzy Stacks when I was in fifth and sixth year in school.
I then went to Enda Bolgers full time after I finished my leaving cert.
Are you still working with Enda full-time?
Yep, I’m still there with him full-time.
How did the connection with Enda come about?
I went over to him for a week at Easter when I was in sixth year and he said that he’d love to have me back for the summer, so I haven’t really looked back since and that was a year and a half ago.
Are you really enjoying your time with Enda?
Yea I love it, it’s great down there. I’m really enjoying it.
When did you find out that you were riding Albaquirky?
I’d say the week before I found out I was riding him.
I was delighted to get the ride on him and couldn’t thank his owners enough for giving me the opportunity to sit on him.
Were you expecting a big run?
It wasn’t a great race but we just didn’t know how fit he was as he hadn’t run in a long time.
Did you get some kick out of riding your first winner?
Oh it was great and do it at my local track made it all the more special.
My mother was the secretary there for ages but not anymore. I got some reception when I came back in, I got a huge congratulations.
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Were your family there on the day?
Yea Mum and Dad and everyone was there on the day.
Do you know what the plan for Albaquirky is now?
I actually have no idea, I don’t ask those questions!
What are your ambitions for the remainder of the season?
To make as many new connections as I can and try get my name out there a bit.
Do you ride out for anyone else other than Enda?
I go into Derek O’Connor’s a morning a week. It’s great experience I’m lucky to be going into the likes of Enda and Derek’s every week, you learn so much from both of them.
Was it always your plan to take out your licence?
It was only when I was down in my Uncles that they kind of convinced me to take it out and I said why not!
It was actually nearly a year to the day that had my first point-to-point ride at Ballycrystal last year, I was really bitten by the bug then.
Who has been your biggest influence in racing?
My Uncle Paul, my cousin Billy and Enda. Those three have been a huge influence on my career and have helped me out so much.
Is there any up and coming riders we should be keeping an eye out for?
Evan Nugent, he rides out for Derek O’Connor, he is a good rider and there is Luke Donnelly I actually work with him in Enda’s he is a conditional jockey and rides very well.
Have you any interests outside of racing?
I play a bit of hurling and football with my local club Lattin Cullen.
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— p2p.ie (@irishp2p) February 21, 2024
It was a red letter day at Comea for Tipperary native David Russell who partnered his first career win aboard the Enda Bolger trainer Albaquirky.
%uD83D%uDC49To find out more about David click here https://t.co/YRqiXE1gV8 pic.twitter.com/eq01C5W9w4
