Tag Archives: Cheltenham

A talented Cratloe jockey, who enjoyed a “fairytale” Cheltenham victory, features in a new television series on RTE One. Mark McDonagh (22), who rode a winner at the 2022 Cheltenham Festival, appeared on the fourth episode of “My Uni Life”, and will return on the seventh episode on Friday, March 29. This new series shines a spotlight on a diverse range of students and staff with interesting subject matters. The programme-makers contacted the Sports Department at the University of Limerick where Mark was studying Accountancy and Finance and the sports scholarship student was put forward by Noreen O’Connell. Filming took place at UL, Michael Hourigan’s yard in Patrickswell, and a race in Wexford Racecourse. Mark rode his first winner at the Cheltenham Festival on the Joseph O’Brien-trained Banbridge in the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle, the last race on the final day of the 2022 meeting. His success meant that all seven races on the day were won by …

What an unbelievable time of it 20-year-old Cratloe jockey Mark McDonagh has had in the past week! Tipped by many shrewd judges as a rider to keep an eye on, McDonagh certainly wrote his name in lights when bagging his first Cheltenham winner aboard Banbridge in the final race of the 2022 Festival, the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle, last Friday. Banbridge completes the festival for 2022 and gives the Irish 7 winners on the day🍀🍀 He gives Joseph O’Brien another festival winner and he’s proving to be an excellent dual purpose trainer and has some career ahead of him👀#CheltenhamFestival pic.twitter.com/Xoejw79Mt3 — Grant James Thomas🧲 (@Grant_Some92) March 18, 2022 A glorious 96 hours for McDonagh, whose grandad, Michael, is a very successful trainer, began in Down Royal on St Patrick’s Day where his guided Roi Mage (13/2) to victory in the featured Bluegrass Stamm 30 Chase for Dublin trainer Patrick Griffin. It was on to Prestbury Park then for …

LAST weekend, Gavin O’Mahony was in Cheltenham, as Kilmallock was gripped by hurling fever. JP McManus paid for a weekend break for the Limerick hurlers, taking in the autumn festival in the Cotswolds. They flew out on Friday and the Kilmallock contingent were back on Sunday morning to resume preparations. O’Mahony said it was great to have even a very short break from the Munster final build-up. “Definitely, it’s gone a bit hurling mad here. It was nice to switch off for a day or two, turn the phone off and relax.” It’s been a long year for O’Mahony who, as well as the highs of a county final victory, also experienced a Munster final defeat to Cork and another defeat against Kilkenny in Croke Park. While the break after Sunday’s game (barring a draw) will be welcome, he isn’t complaining. “There are friends of mine on the county panel who’d love to be still going and to still have …

By Saddlesource THE Cheltenham Festival ignites images that all jump racing fans instantly recognise with next week’s four-day extravaganza set to dominate the sporting landscape worldwide. The action kicks off at 1.30pm next Tuesday when a deafening roar from the packed enclosures will signal the start of Cheltenham 2014 and the best National Hunt fare on offer anywhere in the world. The crème de la crème of horses and jockeys competing against each other for the most sought after and valuable prizes of the entire season will see fierce action on-track. There is always something special about Cheltenham and these four days can make or break a season for owners’, trainers and jockeys whose entire year can be judged on just how they fare at Prestbury Park where the world’s spotlight is firmly fixed. The highlight on Tuesday is the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle where Willie Mullins’ Hurricane Fly will bid to land hurdling’s crown for a third time. This fellow …