FOR anyone who’s met Jody McGarvey, they don’t need me to tell them he’s a likeable and popular guy. For those that haven’t had the pleasure of meeting the charming Derry native, they need only look at how his weighroom colleagues showed their support when McGarvey announced his retirement during the Punchestown Festival last week.

“I’ve had it in my head that I’d retire at the end of the season,” the 34-year-old explained, six days on from his final ride aboard the third-placed Mirazur West. “I actually had another ride the following day, but I didn’t think I had much chance and it ran accordingly; it was pulled up.