Youghal jockey Denis O'Regan bows out after winning at every Irish and British National Hunt track
Picture: Healy Racing
YOUGHAL jockey Denis O’Regan, who rode a winner at every UK and Irish National Hunt track, announced his retirement from the saddle on Saturday at the age of 41.
O'Regan, who scaled the heady heights as a multiple Grade One-winning jockey, will always be remembered for his high-profile link-up with trainer Howard Johnson and owner Graham Wylie. O’Regan landed the 2008 World Hurdle on the staying hurdler Inglis Drever. Earlier that week he'd secured the Arkle Chase on the opening day of the festival on Tidal Bay.
Another north of England-trained horse Cape Tribulation won at both the Cheltenham and Aintree Festivals in 2012. He combined with Malcolm Jefferson on that occasion.
O'Regan acknowledged the contribution of Noel Meade to his career. His time as understudy to Paul Carberry had a huge influence on his style of riding. He has always been renowned for his patient style in the saddle and as the best hold-up jockey, in an era when most fancied horses tend to be ridden forward.
In recent years, O'Regan linked up successfully with Gordon Elliott. His recent victory at Hereford, the only course to have previously eluded him, came for another Meath trainer Cian Collins on Fiveonefive.
He signed off his career for Collins aboard Solly Attwell, who finished unplaced. "I’m delighted with the decision. It was a huge effort to get back for Hereford after such a long stint off and I’m 41 and have had a fair few falls.
“You need goals and when Hereford was done, it’s hard to find another one – unless you’ve got a good horse, and I don’t have six or seven Grade One horses, so I thought it was a good time."
A cherished memory of O’Regan was his virtuoso ride at Galway on Ansar in the 2005 Galway Plate. That ride on the iconic Ballybritt specialist was a huge springboard and catalyst in his burgeoning career at the time.
Elsewhere at Navan, Lisgoold Jockey Paul Townend won undoubtedly the best Beginners Chase you're likely to see anywhere this season on Facile Vega. He is now the ante-post favourite for the 2024 Arkle Chase at Cheltenham.
The multiple Grade One-winning bumper/hurdler didn't jump as well as he had in his schooling at home. But it was still an impressive chasing debut on stamina-sapping ground. The runner-up Inthepocket partnered by Rachael Blackmore emerged with huge credit and is one for the horse tracker.
Blackmore and Henry De Bromhead combined for a big race double with a rejuvenated Bob Ollinger in the Lismullen Hurdle and Captain Guinness in the Fortria Chase.
Meanwhile, at Cheltenham, Rosscarbery Jockey Brian Hayes landed the concluding £25k Listed Mares Bumper on Baby Kate for Willie Mullins.
She'd won a Ballinrobe bumper in August but improved significantly here.
She is a daughter of the ultra-classy mare Augusta Kate. The latter was owned by Alan Shearer, Lee Westwood and Ant and Dec back in her racing career. Brian Hayes had broken his Cheltenham festival duck at this year's festival on Impervious in the Mares Chase.
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