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Derek O'Connor Photograph by John Kelly

“If Skipping The Festival Is All We Are Asked To Do To Help The Fight Against Covid-19, It Is A Small Price To Pay”

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The Cheltenham Festival in 2021 will mark the first time it has been run without the presence of Clare jockey Derek O’Connor since he first began race riding almost 20 years ago.

Amateur riders will not be permitted at this year’s Festival as they are not considered “elite” under the Government’s coronavirus rules.

The Festival contains three major amateur races, including the Foxhunter Chase which is often dubbed the “amateur Gold Cup”.

The amateur races will still go ahead, but horses will be ridden by professional jockeys.

Tubber native O’Connor, who has ridden winners at the Festival on three occasions in recent years, admits that while it is disappointing not to be involved this year, it is a small price to pay to help in controlling the outbreak of Covid-19.

“It is unfortunate but the thing is that we are playing our part to make sure that racing goes ahead and that the Festival goes ahead. If we are playing our part, then that is important too. We have to abide by the rules because they are there to keep everyone safe so we have to play our part if that is what is being asked of us. I would love to be there, no doubt about that and I would have had some nice rides too. I would have had Staker Wallace in the Hunters Chase and a horse called Dickie Diver in the National Hunt Chase. It is disappointing to miss it but if this is all that is asked of us to help out in the pandemic, it is not a big ask really” he noted.

With other big National Hunt meetings on the horizon in the coming months, O’Connor is hopeful that the easing of restrictions will mean that he will be able to take part in other big races.

“It is a move to cut down numbers and ensure that the meeting can go ahead safely. I don’t think the powers that be are overly concerned about amateur riders. They just want the meeting to go ahead and that is totally understandable in the times we are in. We are just hoping that we get back on time for the later festivals. There are a few good hunter chases in the likes of Aintree so we would all love to be there if we could and it looks like we will be because the are important meetings. The English government made the announcement that after March 29, all outdoor sport will be ok and amateur jockeys will be allowed compete so that is something to aim for later on the in Spring” he said.

With the likes of Patrick Mullins having considered turning professional in order to be allowed compete this year, O’Connor outlined that making that move was not something he had considered.

“The benefit of turning professional is that you could ride at the festival but you have to think about what you are giving up after that, so it was not a consideration for me at all. It would have meant giving up the point to point races and all the amateur races, and you have to be sidelined for two years in order to get back amatuer again. At this stage of my career, I don’t really have two years to be playing with so I will make the most of the opportunities I have now with the amateur riding and stick with it at this stage” he stated.

The legendary point to point rider is also confident that the local scene will be up and running in the coming weeks, and is looking forward to a positive few months ahead.

“I am hopeful that we will get back after April 5. Everyone involved in point to point racing is eager to get back, and that is from the top level down. Everyone wants to get back, so the minute we get the go ahead from the government, we will be back up and running fairly quickly after that. We have the local Clare hunt, the Galway hunt, and all those are anxious to restore their dates and even get extra ones pencilled in to alleviate the pressure on the handlers and get horses through the system as soon as we can. If we get going in the first week or two of April, we will make a success of the season, I have no doubts about that” he said.

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