On Thursday night at the Sugar Club, we staged our Dublin Racing Festival special!.

The festival itself takes place on Saturday 2nd and Sunday 3rd February 2019, with eight Grand One races at Leopardstown.

And we had a host of racing talent on show. Davy Russell, Rachael Blackmore and Patrick Mullins were on hand to discuss their own careers. And Tipperary hurling legend Nicky English and our Kevin Kilbane were there too.

On the YouTube video above, you can watch the festival preview in the final section. But before that, we were treated to stories galore with Russell in great form.

In between some great quips, he was compelling on why racing's community is even more tight knit than you'd expect. And he also discussed the balance between being competitive and respecting a rival on track.

"You must have a bit of respect for your colleagues," he said.

"We all go to each other's weddings and each other's funerals"

"Look, I can beat them and I know I'm capable of beating them. But at the same time, you could end up in the back of an ambulance in a heartbeat. So there's no point in... it's just the way it is, you know.

"It wouldn't be much fun now if you're going at 35 mile an hour with 20 lads and they all want to choke each other. You must have some bit of respect for your fellow man. But at the same time, if it comes half or three quarters into the race. From there on in, you're on your own.

"But we all go to each other's weddings and each other's funerals. It's just the way it is."

And he also discussed the experience of falls during races.

"Ah sure, I haven't broken a bone in a couple of months," he quipped first.

You can watch the full show back on YouTube above.

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