Tag Archive for: Edward O’Grady

‘Way ahead of his time’ – tributes paid to Edward O’Grady

/in /by

Former jockey Norman Williamson led the tributes to Edward O’Grady, who died on Sunday at the age of 75, hailing him “a remarkable trainer and a remarkable man”.

Williamson rode a whole host of big-race winners for O’Grady, including his last Cheltenham Festival success in the saddle aboard Back In Front in the 2003 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.

He also enjoyed notable success aboard the likes of Ned Kelly, winner of the 2002 Irish Champion Hurdle, and Nick Dundee, both of whom were owned by John Magnier.

Edward O'Grady speaks to the press at Leopardstown
Edward O’Grady speaks to the press at Leopardstown (Niall Carson/PA)

Williamson said: “He was a remarkable trainer and a remarkable man and I think way ahead of his time, to be honest.

“What he did as a young man, I think he took over from his father in his early 20s, was amazing.

“Once you were on his team you knew you were going to be riding some good horses and we had a lot of success together.”

O’Grady saddled 18 Cheltenham Festival winners, putting him 17th on the all-time list.

“He never took a horse to Cheltenham with no chance, they all had reason to be there and he knew when he had one,” Williamson added.

“I actually rode my last Cheltenham winner for him on Back In Front. He was a short-priced favourite (for the Supreme) on the day, but it was like he was running him in a maiden hurdle. Edward knew what he had and he knew he was good enough.

“Ned Kelly won the Irish Champion Hurdle for us and Nick Dundee was a great horse, but we unfortunately didn’t get to see his full potential. He fell in the SunAlliance Chase in Cheltenham when he was cantering, he was the banker that year.

“We had some great times together, he was a great pal and he’ll be sadly missed.”

Sky’s the Limit and Barry Geraghty clear the final flight in the Coral Cup
Sky’s the Limit and Barry Geraghty clear the final flight in the Coral Cup (David Jones/PA)

Another jockey who teamed up with O’Grady for Cheltenham Festival success was Barry Geraghty, with Sky’s The Limit dominating his rivals in the 2006 Coral Cup.

Geraghty said: “It’s really sad news and a shock.

“Edward was a brilliant man and you would meet him regularly racing. He was always good company and he was a brilliant trainer who had great success. How he produced his horses… they were always so fit and so well and so well schooled.

“But above everything else he was a brilliant family man, a great father who loved his family and I’m sure everyone is devastated.

“Growing up and watching on, Edward O’Grady – he was the man at Cheltenham. I was fortunate to win on Sky’s The Limit for him and I rode Back In Front to win the Morgiana Hurdle in Punchestown, we had lots of really good days.”

Mouse Morris rode Edward O'Grady's first Cheltenham Festival winner
Mouse Morris rode Edward O’Grady’s first Cheltenham Festival winner (PA)

O’Grady’s first Festival winner was Mr Midland, who landed the National Hunt Chase in 1974 in the hands of future Cheltenham Gold Cup-winning trainer Mouse Morris.

“I was with Edward for 17 years, riding for him as an amateur and when I turned professional,” said Morris.

“He was a very good trainer and was having winners in Cheltenham at a time when the Irish had very few winners there.

“Golden Cygnet was probably the best horse he trained and I remember winning on a horse called I’m Happy. He won a bumper at Naas and was sold to England. I think he was the first horse to beat Bula, that’s going back a long time!”

Family announces death of Irish training great Edward O’Grady

/in /by

Edward O’Grady, one of the greats of Irish National Hunt racing, died on Sunday evening at the age of 75, his family has announced.

O’Grady trained a whole host of top-class horses over the course of his long and illustrious career and for a long time was the leading Irish trainer at the Cheltenham Festival where he saddled 18 winners, the first being Mr Midland in the 1974 National Hunt Chase.

A statement released by his family through Horse Racing Ireland read: “It is with profound sadness that we announce the death of Edward O’Grady, who passed away peacefully yesterday evening at St James’s Hospital (in Dublin), surrounded by his family.

“Edward was a cherished husband, father and grandfather and also one of the most respected and successful racehorse trainers of his generation.

“Over the course of an extraordinary career that spanned more than five decades, Edward trained just shy of 1,700 winners under rules. His name became synonymous with Irish National Hunt racing, and he was a formidable force at Cheltenham and across the racing world.

“Beyond the winners and the headlines, Edward was a man of deep intelligence, sharp wit, and remarkable warmth. He had friends on every continent, a story for every occasion, and a lifelong passion for the sport, the hunting field and everything equestrian.

“Funeral details will be announced in due course.”

Edward O’Grady gives interviews after Cash and Go won at Leopardstown
Edward O’Grady gives interviews after Cash and Go won at Leopardstown (Niall Carson/PA)

Perhaps the most talented horse to pass through O’Grady’s hands was Golden Cygnet, a brilliant winner of the 1978 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle but fatally injured in the Scottish Champion Hurdle the following month.

More recent Festival winners for O’Grady include Pizarro, who landed the 2002 Champion Bumper in the hands of top Flat jockey Jamie Spencer, and the 2003 Supreme scorer Back In Front.

Away from Cheltenham, O’Grady saddled Sound Man to win successive runnings of the Tingle Creek at Sandown in 1995 and 1996, while his final Grade One winner was Cash And Go in the Future Champions Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown’s Christmas Festival in 2011.

Other top-class horses he trained include 2002 Irish Champion Hurdle winner Ned Kelly and his half-brother Nick Dundee, who both carried the colours of Coolmore supremo John Magnier.

O’Grady trained for more than 50 years from his base in County Tipperary, taking over at Killeens after the death of his father, Willie – a former dual Irish champion jockey and later trainer – in January 1972.

His final winner came via Our Soldier in a Bellewstown handicap hurdle at the start of July, while his last runner, Sovereign Banter, finished unplaced in a Cork sprint on Friday night.