Galopin Des Champs Leopardstown, February 1st

What’s this? Racegoers singing ole, ole, ole at a racecourse? No, it’s not inebriated students on student race day (other brands of students are available!), this was one of the biggest races of the season and the reception of the season to Galopin Des Champs after winning his third Irish Gold Cup.

The stands were packed, the first cheer was at the second last first time round. The cheers chased him to the last but the head-on angle made it difficult to see how far ahead he was. Then up the run-in the cheers became roars of approval. It even deafened out Jerry Hannon’s commentary! What a pleasure to be there.

What was your defining photo of sport in 2025? Rory on the 18th at The Masters? Van Dijk with the Premier League Trophy? Clifford’s Golden Eagle hands extended in Croke Park?

The defining photo of 2025 jump racing was the one on the right. It proved, if you are not in, you can’t win, and anyone can grab a day of glory in jump racing.

There were three top-class hurdlers in the Champion Hurdle. Constitution Hill and State Man were previous winners and Brighterdaysahead had a big Christmas win.

Golden Ace was only there to pick up the pieces and a few £s, because Lossiemouth had the Mares Hurdle sewn up.

But Constitution Hill crashes out, Brighterdaysahead is struggling. Paul Townend is clear going to the last. State Man is Mr Reliable, he doesn’t let you down. Just one jump… Townend asks for a long one… he says he would do the same again. But State Man doesn’t make the top bar and crashes down on his head. Three of the best, flattened. Lorcan Williams can’t believe it as he races to the line, hand stretched high. Who could ever have written that script?

“There are 494 yards between the last fence and the winning post in the Grand National at Aintree. And for about 480 of them, last Saturday, I was the happiest man in the world. But the last battle is the only one to count.” This was Lord Oaksey’s account of being caught on the run-in in the 1963 Grand National. A famous amateur rider of the ‘60s and ‘70s and also a very fine writer.

Patrick Mullins knew how to describe a race in print too. The Grand National had not been kind to him. But here he too was, at the elbow, with the race in the balance, and the biggest danger provided by another of his father’s runners, the previous winner, I Am Maximus.

This time, the man on board could write of his historic hour of victory. Through all the big race wins and records, it’s not too often Willie is both lost for words and unable to speak. This was a once in a lifetime occasion.

There was something fulfilling after a difficult season to see Rachael Blackmore sneak up on rivals in her own familiar style and land a Thursday Cheltenham Festival double. We suspected there might not be too many more, but the end came suddenly two months later.

“My days of being a jockey have come to an end.” On a quiet Monday, the news came in social media posts - the greatest-ever female rider announced that she had retired. No last ride, no fanfare, no waves goodbye.

What she achieved in just six years, was simply phenomenal, read it slowly, Champion Hurdle, Champion Chase, Ryanair Chase, Stayers Hurdle, Triumph Hurdle, Gold Cup, Grand National.

It would be barely believable for a male rider and, for all the glass ceilings broken, it will be a long time for us to see her like again.

There may be lots of discussion around its prestige in the flat calendar, but the Derby is a most famed race. It’s roll of honour doesn’t have many ‘random’ riders. Spin back in history from 1780, racing history, Frank Buckle, Fred Archer, Steve Donoghue, Sir Gordon Richards, Lester Piggott, Scobie Breasley, Pat Eddery, Willie Carson, Walter Swinburn, Mick Kinane, Kieran Fallon, Ryan Moore, Frankie Dettori.

It’s where you would want your name to rest. Padraig Beggy and Emmet McNamara hit it lucky. In 2021, Adam Kirby became one more ‘randomer’: “This means everything, I always said I’d rather win a Derby than be champion jockey. It’s the Derby, the greatest race. Unbelievable, I’m lost for words,” he said.

Wayne Lordan wasn’t on the favourite or the talked about horse in Delacroix or The Lion In Winter, but in Lambourn he had a horse fit for the occasion.

He made his own pace, took him to the furlong pole, and then nothing was going to stop his name on that roll of honour.

There was plenty of post-race discussions after the 2000 Guineas. Did the best horse win? Was the jockey on Field Of Gold to blame?

Come the Curragh, Colin Keane had stepped in for the ride. Then, on the eve of Royal Ascot, the news that he was now number one rider for Juddmonte.

It’s an honour for a rider to wear them, the famous horses that have carried the green and pink sash. It’s an even bigger pressure to be the number one retained rider.

The first big test was the St James’s Palace Stakes, the British Guineas winner took on the French Guineas winner and the Irish Guineas victor. Keane hasn’t ridden too many Royal Ascot winners.

There was no leaving it too late here, John Gosden was satisfied as Field Of Gold was sent on early in the straight and won the St James’s Palace Stakes handsomely. Things did not always go smoothly for Keane in the first jockey role, but on that big day, he knew exactly what to do.

We all have heights we aspire to, but generally never make it. “It’s like an All-Ireland medal. To be recognised with a Group 1 is a lifetime achievement,” Joe Murphy said receiving a Special Achievement Award at the HRI end of year awards.

The filly Cercene had cost just €50,000, and here in June she was in a battle with a blue-blooded Aga Khan-owned filly, at the King of England’s racetrack.

Gary Carroll in his interview at the HRI awards, said Joe could appear in the yard in a three sizes too big coat or odd wellingtons, but there was Joe, dapper dan-like in top hat and tails receiving his trophy from King Charles. Who said only jump racing gave you a path to such heights?

“He’s a grafter and today is the culmination of a lifetime’s work. I’m proud of my dad and I’m proud of the filly,” Joe jnr summed it up on the day.

It’s quite a cause for concern when the jockey has the horse that you’ve backed sitting eight lengths off the leader, in a Group 1 race as they turn into the straight. Such it was in the Irish St Leger as Al Riffa and Dylan Browne McMonagle were quite a way off the leader Al Qareem.

But no fear, the new Irish champion jockey knew his horse. Al Riffa had given him great success already in his career and came through again to win his first classic. It is no doubt the shape of things to come for the new Irish champion jockey.

Going on to that famous Breeders’ Cup success, Browne McMonagle may be still young, but not much will phase or get the better of him on a big day.

Willie Mullins won the Grand National. He had trained the favourite for the Gold Cup and watched his Champion Hurdle contender crash at the last with the race won. Surely nothing could surprise him?

He took a trip to the Breeders’ Cup, more for the fun of it, with a flat handicapper, albeit one who had won at Royal Ascot and the Ebor at York. But this was the elite, flat champions, the Yanks call it the World Championships.

And being drawn 14 of 14 might have made you feel unwanted. But into the straight in the Turf, the five-year-old gelding Ethical Diamond was in prime position and rolling under Browne McMonagle.

One amazing win was becoming reality. Even Willie looked stunned!

Irish racing stopped on the morning of Sunday, February 16th as we woke and saw the news that some knew, some feared and everyone dreaded, had come. Michael O’Sullivan was no longer with us.

Cheltenham was more sombre on that first day, Paul Townend acknowledging Michael’s loss after winning a Supreme Novices Hurdle named in his memory.

There were tears again on the Wednesday when Marine Nationale, Michael’s biggest winner, came home clear in the Champion Chase.

Then Michael’s other 2024 Cheltenham winner Jazzy Matty also came through to win again. Come Thursday, not everyone knew that Jonjo O’Neill Jnr had been close to Micheal.

Jagwar did the business and O’Neill said afterwards: “I actually wore his Cork flag in this race as I felt I needed a little bit of luck. I said a couple of prayers to Michael last night and this morning, just for a hand, and he’s really come up trumps. Michael used to stay with me during Cheltenham. He was an unbelievable human being.”

Willie Mullins doesn’t train many 100/1 Festival winners, and Jonjo O’Neill Jnr hasn’t ridden too many winners there. But here they were combining again with Poniros winning the Triumph Hurdle. Yes, someone was watching over his friends at Cheltenham 2025.