Michael O'Leary, owner of horses running under the Gigginstown House Stud banner, has publicly criticized jockey Davy Russell for coming out of retirement.
Despite his disagreement, O'Leary has booked Russell to partner Fury Road in the Ryanair Chase on Thursday which O'Leary sponsors and covets winning each year.
In an interview on ITV Racing, O'Leary said that at a certain time people should put their family first and not their riding career. Russell, 43, retired from riding on December 18 but was coaxed back into the saddle by longtime ally Gordon Elliott after his stable jockey Jack Kennedy broke his leg in a fall. O'Leary does not believe that Russell has anything more to achieve by coming back.
Russell is set to ride a number of leading fancies at the Cheltenham Festival this week, including Mighty Potter in the Turners Novices' Chase on Thursday and Galvin in Wednesday's Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase. O'Leary, who has no runners on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival, will be seeking a third win in the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup with Conflated on Friday with Russell seemingly in pole position to take the ride.
However, Jordan Gainford, who also rides regularly for Conflated's trainer Gordon Elliott, is already committed to partnering Hewick in the same race.
