Davy Russell 'devastated' by passing of trainer Pat Coffey in freak accident

Davy Russell has led the tributes to Pat Coffey, the 55-year-old trainer who was tragically killed in a horse and trap accident in County Tipperary on Wednesday.

Coffey, a well-known figure on the Irish point-to-point circuit, enjoyed a career highlight at Huntingdon in 2014 when sending out the well-punted Saddlers Deal and That's A Fact to win, both of whom were partnered by Russell.

“I'm devastated,” Russell said. “I'm shocked, I genuinely am over the whole thing. Pat was a very nice man and he was a real sportsman who loved every part of racing.

“He understood the game, he bought foals, he bought three-year-olds, he raced horses. He was a great man.”

Russell labelled that Huntingdon double as a dream result for Coffey. Remembering the joy the trainer got out of pulling off a gamble, he said: “We had a great time together over in Huntington that day. He couldn't get over it really. He only dreamt about days like that.

“It was only himself and a pal of his that went over and for the two horses to go and click was great. We knocked great craic out of it and he got a few quid out of it as well.”

Davy Russell: 'He was what our industry is all about - the backbone of the game'Credit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Russell added: “I spoke to him regularly and he was actually on my mind all week. He sent me a lovely message after I came out of hospital [following a fall] and I was meaning to ring him. I'm disgusted with myself that I never rang him.

"He was a proper Irishman. He milked cows in the morning, rode out his few horses and he'd go off to the hunt as well. He was what our industry is all about — the backbone of the game.”

Coffey was dealt a hammer blow in January 2018 when his nephew Patrick McCormack died in a farming accident at his base near Nenagh in Tipperary.

According to those who knew Coffey best, the trainer had been planning on stepping up his involvement in racing following a quiet spell after the accident.

Russell said: "He had a bit of misfortune with the accident on his farm a few years ago and I know it played on his mind. He was just starting to get back into the swing of things again and I think he was going to do up the gallop. It's just very sad.”

He added: “Pat loved going to the points, the sales, rearing horses and loved the craic as well. He was a very enjoyable man to be around and he will be sadly missed. I'm devastated.”

Denis Murphy: 'He loved [Davy] Russell and [Jamie] Codd - they were Gods to him'Credit: Debbie Burt

Leading point-to-point handler Denis Murphy owned many good horses with Coffey and sent out Lough Derg Spirit to win between the flags under Jamie Codd for him, after which he was knocked down for £190,000 to Highflyer Bloodstock.

Murphy said: “I took a horse for a half share off Pat about 15 years ago and I have never looked back since. We were great friends and I only spoke to him on the phone last Friday evening. He sounded in great form. He got some kick out of the double Russell rode for him at Huntingdon. I wasn't there but I wish I was. I met him a couple of days later at the Doncaster sales and he was over the moon.”

The trainer added: “He was the type of a fella who'd get hot with you, but if you had any kind of a falling out with him it would all be over in a few minutes. He had plenty of good horses and had Lough Derg Spirit who went on to be a good horse. He loved Russell and [Jamie] Codd. They were Gods to him.”

Codd also offered his condolences to the family, and said: "It's just desperately sad news and we're all thinking of Pat's family right now."

He added: "Pat was around Denis's [Murphy] place as long as I can remember and we had some great days. It's very sad."