Russell sizes up talented 'first cousins' Davy Russell was a guest last night with Damien O'Meara and Liam Nash, on the new one hour Game On sports show on 2FM, and it made for some interesting listening. The Champion Jockey said: "Sir Des Champs came out of the race well (the Hennessy Gold Cup last Saturday). I was talking to Emmet Mullins yesterday at the races and he said he was bucking and squealing after the run so that's always a great sign. "He's not ground dependent – he does handle every type of ground. Willie (Mullins) has tightened the screw as the year has gone on. The horse is getting better as the year progresses and I don't think he's hugely ground dependent. "The general thing with Sir Des Champs is that he does enjoy going to the likes of Cheltenham. He's a better horse on a big day. "The likes of First Lieutenant would seem to be held with Bobs Worth on form. "Sir Des Champs is a different type of horse than First Lieutenant in that he's more of a staying horse. "Cheltenham will suit Sir Des Champs more than a lot of horses. Of course Bobs Worth is a course specialist around Cheltenham as well. There'd be a chance with everything going to plan that Bobs Worth seems to be the horse that we all need to beat. "First Lieutenant is a high quality horse. He finished in front of Sir Des Champs at Leopardstown the run before last. "He's still unable to get by Bobs Worth on any form – including in the Hennessy in England this year. It would be hard to see him beating Bobs Worth on all known form at the moment – you'd never know what could happen on any given day. That's why I'd maybe be pushing towards Sir Des Champs at the moment. "If you can't enjoy the build-up to the likes of Cheltenham, there isn't much point being in the game. I'm very much looking forward to it – I love everything associated with it. "It's the mecca, quality horses, and people are there to enjoy racing for sure. It's something I look forward to. I enjoy the build-up to it and when it arrives." - - Un Atout "Would you believe that Un Atout and Sir Des Champs are actually kinda first cousins in their pedigree seeing as we're talking about the two of them. "He's a horse that I hold in high regard. He hasn't had any huge test this year so it's hard to know how good he really is. Riding him he does feel like a very very good horse." - - Arnaud (Gowran today) "My horse just probably isn't rated high enough to win the race. Anything can happen on any day but he has a good bit to go to get to the level of form of Zaidpour and So Young. It's probably between the two of them." - - Rogue Angel (Gowran today) "I ride a horse in a handicap there - Rogue Angel - he has plenty of ability. He may not be fit enough coming back of a lay-off. He has a lot of ability and I'm sure the tongue-tie will help him. He just could sneak in maybe." - - Irish four-year-olds "At the start of the year it was very worrying that we weren't up to scratch at all. As the year progressed horses like Our Conor and Willie's bunch have emerged. I think we have a shout in comparison to other years. I think Our Conor has a live chance going over there for the big race." - - Carry Each Other (Thurles last Thursday) "I didn't quite lose the ten pounds some suggested I did in getting him home – I wish it was that easy to shed ten pounds! "Mouse (Morris) had done a great job with him. He had the horse fit and well. He was in at a level that he was capable of winning at. "It was actually my first-time riding him on a racecourse as he was previously always a kind of a second string. "When you are riding for Michael O'Leary – he's a very good owner and he always likes his horses to be doing their best and he doesn't mind what way – pretty or not – he likes to get them across the line. "It's great to be riding for them. I know once I'm trying my hardest that they'll be happy. You have to repay them at times." (EM)
