Russell for Monday op' as Doc's still differ Davy Russell was critical, in an interview on RTE Racing from Punchestown today, of the part played by the British medical team in dealing with an injury the Champion Jockey sustained at the Cheltenham Festival. Russell's lung collapsed at the March Festival and while subsequently passed fit to ride in Ireland, was, at the same time, prevented from riding in Britain due to a difference of medical opinion. He stated “the lowest point of the season was not being allowed to ride at Aintree and that was the disappointing part of it really. “If the English (doctors) had their way I'd be leading up horses here today but lucky enough we've a very good medical team and they brought me to the top men (medical professionals) in Ireland and they told me that I can ride for three weeks and look after it then. That's what I'm going to do and it was just a simple thing – my lung deflated and I now have to be a few blisters on it sealed up and we're good to go after that. “I'm booked in to have surgery on Monday morning and the English again butted in during the week and told me they had to open my chest. Dr Turner (the British Horseracing Authority's chief medical advisor) wrote to my surgeon to tell him what kind of operation he had to give me and to be fair to Dr Adrian McGoldrick (Irish Turf Club medical officer) again, we consulted with the top man in Ireland and he said there's no need to open me up and just go in with the small operation.” Russell finished the season on 103 winners, two more than Ruby Walsh at the head of the Jockeys' Championship. By Thomas Weekes
