Tag Archive for: denis o’regan

Denis O’Regan calls time on historic career

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Denis O’Regan, who recently completed the full set of riding a winner at all UK and Irish National Hunt tracks, announced his retirement at Navan on Saturday.

A multiple Grade One-winning rider, he perhaps will be best remembered for his successful if relatively brief link-up with trainer Howard Johnson and owner Graham Wylie in the north of England.

During their association, O’Regan won the 2008 World (now Stayers’) Hurdle on Inglis Drever and in the same week landed the Arkle on Tidal Bay.

He won a Becher Chase at Aintree on the Dessie Hughes-trained Black Apalachi, who went on to be second to Don’t Push It in the 2010 Grand National won by Tony McCoy.

Denis O’Regan with Inglis Drever
Denis O’Regan with Inglis Drever (David Davies/PA)

Cape Tribulation won at both the Cheltenham and Aintree Festivals in 2012 for O’Regan and Malcolm Jefferson, and a year later the same horse won the Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham.

O’Regan also won a Fighting Fifth on Countrywide Flame, a Finale Hurdle on Ruacana and a Galway Hurdle on Quick Jack.

Having learned the ropes at Noel Meade’s yard as understudy to Paul Carberry, it is no surprise O’Regan was renowned for his quiet style in the saddle and in recent years had been used by Gordon Elliott.

His recent victory at Hereford, the only course to have previously eluded him, came for trainer Cian Collins on Fiveonefive, so it was fitting he brought the curtain down on his career on Collins’ Solly Attwell, who finished unplaced.

Denis O’Regan on Cape Tribulation after victory at the Cheltenham Festival
Denis O’Regan on Cape Tribulation after victory at the Cheltenham Festival (David Davies/PA)

O’Regan said: “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.

“It was not simple now to come to the decision but I went to Gowran last Saturday and I knew then after that. I knew going home that was it and I had to stop now.

“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.

“It’s the local track for me here, I’ve been very lucky here, my wife and my kids are here, there’s a lot of support and I wanted to go out on one of Cian’s. It didn’t have to be a winner and I’m delighted with that.”

O’Regan completes full set with Hereford winner

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Denis O’Regan finally completed his quest to ride a winner at all UK and Irish National Hunt racecourses when successfully steering Fiveonefive to victory at Hereford.

The Irishman has tasted plenty of success on some of the sport’s biggest days – including Cheltenham Festival victories aboard the likes of Inglis Drever and Tidal Bay – but was winless from 28 attempts at Hereford prior to getting the leg-up aboard the 8-15 favourite in the Play Beat Sav At PlanetSportBet Novices’ Hurdle.

However, he broke his duck with a typically stylish ride. He cruised up aboard Cian Collins’ five-year-old rounding the bend for home and saw off Johnny Blue by a length and three-quarters.

It may not be the highest profile victory in O’Regan’s decorated career, but he was thrilled to complete one of his remaining ambitions on his return from injury.

“It’s lovely and it’s a personal achievement,” O’Regan told Sky Sports Racing.

“I have no idea if anyone has done it before or not, but it matters to me.

“I’m only back from injury yesterday, I had 14 weeks off and I have a couple of thanks to say to my physios and they were all very good helping me get back which was brilliant, and my boys and wife are at home watching so it’s great.

“It’s probably a huge achievement for myself, it’s took a lot of hard work and a lot of years riding in different places and different jobs.

“A lot of people supported me last year trying to get it and it didn’t quite work out. Gordon Elliot, Cian again, there were different trainers all helping me out.

“Today was a lucky day, I had a good feeling about it, and I’m delighted it has come off.”

Thedevilscoachman advertises Irish National claims at Limerick

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Thedevilscoachman teed himself up for a possible tilt at the Irish Grand National with victory in the Way To Paris @ Coolagown Stud Hugh McMahon Memorial Novice Chase at Limerick.

The JP McManus-owned seven-year-old was bidding for a second successive Grade Three prize for trainer Noel Meade, having been awarded victory by the stewards at Naas in late January after a thrilling tussle with Ramillies.

Denis O’Regan took over in the saddle from the recently retired Bryan Cooper and after stalking recent Gowran Park scorer Grandero Bello into the home straight, 11-8 favourite Thedevilscoachman picked him off on the run-in before pulling two and a half lengths clear.

Paddy Power make the winner their 5-1 favourite from 8-1 for the BoyleSports Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse on Easter Monday, although the Fairyhouse Gold Cup Novice Chase the previous afternoon is a possible alternative.

The owner’s racing manager, Frank Berry, said: “That was grand and the ground was made for him. It was an ideal race and you couldn’t have it soft enough for him. You couldn’t have asked for better today.

“We’ll see what Noel thinks and how he comes out of the race but we’ll see about the Irish National as if he got really soft ground, it might be a different kettle of fish and he could run in the Fairyhouse Gold Cup.

“Denis let him warm up into it and the further he went, the better he jumped. You could only be happy with him.”

Berry also provided an update on McManus’ retained rider Mark Walsh, who has been out of action since suffering a crashing fall from Corbetts Cross at the Cheltenham Festival last week.

“Mark is in better form this week and hopefully will be back for Easter. It is quite slow but he is getting there,” Berry added.

Gordon Elliott at the Cheltenham Festival last week
Gordon Elliott at the Cheltenham Festival last week (Mike Egerton/PA)

Trainer Gordon Elliott enjoyed a double on the card, with the 13-8 success of Deeply Superficial in the Tote Mares Hurdle supplemented by victory for 4-6 favourite The Yellow Clay in the Listed bumper.

A winner on his debut at Leopardstown three weeks ago, the latter followed up with a two-and-a-half length verdict in the Kevin McManus Bookmaker Champion (Pro/Am) Flat Race under Jamie Codd.

“We thought going to Leopardstown that he could be quite a smart one for next year and he has backed that up today. I don’t know what’s in behind him but all you can do is win,” said Codd.

“I’ll speak with Gordon but he has now probably done enough for this year and we’ll treat him like a good horse for next year.

“Noel and Valerie (Moran, of owners Bective Stud) bred him so it makes it more important for them.”

O’Regan’s wait for Hereford winner continues

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Denis O’Regan will have to wait at least another two weeks before having a chance at making a little history, after his three mounts at Hereford were beaten on Wednesday.

The veteran jockey has ridden a winner at every other track in Britain and Ireland and needs just a win at the venue, which briefly closed between the end of 2012 and 2016, to complete the set.

O’Regan has had a great career on both sides of the Irish Sea and has raised his profile since Ansar won the Galway Plate 17 years ago, but the wait to make it a full house will have to continue for a while yet.

Before Christmas, Gordon Elliott sent horses to Hereford in a bid to get the elusive winner for his good friend, but is was not to be.

Denis O’Regan has
Denis O’Regan has “unfinished business” at Hereford (David Davies/PA)

O’Regan’s quest to complete the feat by the end of 2022 was then scuppered by the frost, when he flew over form Ireland, only to see the meeting called off at the last minute.

And on Wednesday, despite having a decent book of rides on paper, he was again out of luck.

Diego’s Way, trained by Cain Collins, had to play second fiddle to Post Chaise in the Jackson Property Handicap Chase, Presenting Doyen (Lucy Wadham) was fourth to Fairy Gem in the Follow Vickers.Bet On Facebook Mares’ Maiden Hurdle, and his final mount, Skinflint (Henry Oliver), was third to Not Sure in the Black Mountain Botanicals Handicap Chase.

Despite the setback, O’Regan was all smiles afterwards.

He said: “Second, third and fourth I suppose, but it was not what I was hoping.

“All three horses ran well. Diego’s Way definitely comes back again. The filly in the maiden hurdle (Presenting Doyen), it actually looked a better race than we probably thought than it looked on paper. It rode like an OK sort of race and I’d expect improvement from her.

“And the last one, Skinflint, he ran a blinder off top weight. He’s an 11-year-old who hasn’t run in while.

“We were hoping, but it didn’t quite come off. This is just my second meeting of the season at Hereford. I was here for two rides and then flew over when the meeting was called off.

“There is now unfinished business. I will have to keep going now. The pressure is on. The Irish trainers are going to run out of horses to bring over for me!”