'I was done, I was finished - again!' - Davy Russell bounces back on Gerri Colombe

That was a much better way to go out. A proper star deserves at least one final curtain call and Gerri Colombe made sure he got it at the scene of his most famous triumphs.

There was no standing ovation for dual Grand National-winning jockey Davy Russell when he made a shock comeback from retirement to help Gordon Elliott out at Cheltenham last month.

He drew a blank at the festival, stood himself down from the Gold Cup ride on Conflated and even came in for criticism for not "putting his family first" from Michael O'Leary. But back at Aintree, where he partnered O'Leary's Tiger Roll to two National triumphs, things clicked back into place.

Russell rode a perfect waiting race on Gerri Colombe in the Air Charter Service Mildmay Novices' Chase, biding his time before hitting the front at the second-last fence and bounding clear to score by seven and a half lengths.

He was understandably emotional afterwards and paid full tribute to the trainer – and friend – who had insisted he carry on his temporary comeback.

Gerri Colombe: well clear jumping the last at Aintree

"Gordon was the instigator," he said. "I was done, I was finished – again! And he wasn't happy with the way the ending was and he said he wanted me to ride here.  That's great. All your life you're trying to please trainers and owners, put yourself out there and let them know you're the person for the job. It's a tough sport. You're up, you're down, you're in, you're out. You never get a pat on the back, you just have to keep moving on to the next day.

"When someone as high-profile as Gordon gives you a pat on the back or kick in the backside that you need, that's the part of your career where you have to make it work. I'm lucky that for the last couple of years Gordon has been behind me all the way, and his huge team of staff."   

Elliott was delighted for Russell, who will partner Galvin for him in Saturday's Grand National, and said: "Davy has been a big part of my team since I started training. We've been friends since we were 16 or 17. I didn't want him to finish up on the note he was at Cheltenham, I wanted him to go out on a high, so happy days."

Gerri Colombe had been narrowly beaten by The Real Whacker in the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase under Jordan Gainford and Elliott said: "We were disappointed we got beaten at Cheltenham, I think we were the best horse in the race. That proved it today. He's a horse to look forward to for next year. He hasn't done much wrong his whole career. You have to dream in this game and he looks to have a whole lot of potential."

Paul Nicholls is dreaming of big races in 2023-24 for runner-up Complete Unknown and said: "He ran well and the track probably didn't suit him as he was a little bit flat out and he can jump better. He's a lovely horse for the big handicaps next season and he'll definitely have entries for races like the Coral Gold Cup and Welsh Grand National."

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