A legendary line-up of racing stars are set to show their support for Pat Smullen and Cancer Trials Ireland at Belharbour point-to-point.
The novel charity race has been inspired by Pat Smullen, nine-time Irish Champion Jockey, who was forced into retirement after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and is currently undergoing treatment.
Pat’s popularity in the racing world has helped to raise awareness, and much needed funds for Cancer Trials Ireland through various charity races and auctions around the country; the most prominent being the Champions Race at the Curragh in 2019, where over €2.5 million was raised.
This year, the Co Clare Hunt have decided to do their bit for this fantastic cause and have called on Racing Legends to come out and show their support by going head to head at one of the most scenic Point to Point track settings in the country.
Show your support for your favourite jockey by donating to Cancer Trials Ireland and be in with a chance of winning one of our fantastic prizes:
- Frankie Dettori Racing Boots signed by the man himself after his record-breaking season.
- Signed & Framed Photo of the 'Pat Smullen Champions Weekend Legends' riding out at Joseph O'Brien's gallop. Ruby Walsh, Sir AP McCoy, Paul Carberry, Charlie Swan, Joseph O'Brien all feature in the photograph. (Pictured at the top of the page.)
Donate a minimum of €5 and write a message of support for your chosen jockey below on the GoFundMe page.
(*If you donate more than €5, your chances will increase with every multiple of 5. E.g. If you donate €10 you will have double the chance of winning one of our fantastic prizes! Winners will be chosen at random and announced on Sunday 9th February.)
Below is a final list of the 20 rider profiles released for the legends race:
Paul Carberry
Paul is without doubt one of the most gifted jockeys we've ever seen. Ultra-stylish, charismatic & a punters favourite. Hugely successful career with 14 Cheltenham festival winners, an Aintree Grand National & over 40 Grade 1's. Of all the horses Carberry has been paired with, his most notable partner was Harchibald. Paul retired in 2016 & now runs a successful pre-training yard while turning his talents to show jumping. Expect his mount for the big race to be dropped out and delivered late on the line just like Harchibald.
Brian Hassett
The Hassman is back!! For the younger generation that don't know the legend – he was a tough and feared competitor "thou shall not go down his inside and on a bad day you wouldn't go down his outer either". Some say he couldn't be tamed but a Tipp woman managed to do it. He was top class amateurwith a great career riding close to 250 winners & is now a successful trainer/producer with Javary's Plate & Kilfilum Cross some recent horses to pass through his expert hands.
Tom Costello
Tom Costello comes from one of the most famous dynasties in Racing. He was a top-class record-breaking rider and rode over 250 winners in an era with a lot less racing. Dual champion point to point rider and he also won five western titles and a southern title. Nowadays he produces young horses from his base in Newmarket on Fergus with Presenting Percy, Mall Dini and Mr Whitaker some of his recent graduates.
Adrian Maguire
Adrian Maguire was one of the finest jump riders this country has produced. He took the Irish National on Omerta when still an amateur & he was equally persuasive in getting Cool Ground to win a Gold Cup. He enjoyed success with Toby Balding, David Nicholson & Ferdy Murphy in particular. His record as a point to point rider was impressive. His 9 winners in his 1st season hinted at what was to come. In 1991 Adrian Maguire went toe to toe with John Berry in one of the best battles ever fought for a title.
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Jason Titley
One of the finest riders that County Clare has ever produced, Jason Titley was always the man for a big occasion. Especially having won an Aintree Grand National with Royal Athlete and two Irish Nationals - with Vanton and Madahim, as well many Cheltenham Festival successes. Jason enjoyed a great career before returning home to light up the hunting field in Clare. He now runs a successful pre-training yard educating young horses for big owners like Philip Reynolds and Luke McMahon.
Michael Winters
Michael Winters is without doubt one of the most popular characters in National Hunt racing! He is as shrewd a trainer as you will come across in the business and he has enjoyed many a big day. His success include meeting HRH The Queen at Royal Ascot, following the win with the prolific mare Missunited, as well as landing back to back Galway Hurdles with Rebel Fitz. A true gentleman and the first rider to give his support to this race, Michael is a self proclaimed middle-of-the-road jockey but don't be fooled, he loves to land a touch - so punters watch out!
Bryan Murphy
Former amateur and popular hotelier, Bryan Murphy of the world renowned Dunraven Arms Hotel in Adare, makes a return to the saddle for one day only. Bryan is a great supporter of the point-to-point industry and an expert talent spotter of young National Hunt horses. The hugely exciting Thyme Hill, who is the current favourite for the Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham, is just one of the most recent up and coming horses to pass through his skilled hands.
John Lynch
John Lynch is the elder Statesman in the field and one of the most popular faces on the Point-to-Point circuit every weekend. Always smiling, he is famous locally for collecting his pension in full riding-out gear with his back protector and helmet on and for occasionally dancing on tables at weddings. A natural lightweight with over 100 winners to his name, along with his brother Pat, John has produced some top National horse like Pakalolo & Gerties Pride. John is also responsible for kick-starting Derek O’Connor’s career by giving him his first winner.
Willy Twiston Davies
Willy Twiston Davies, who is frequently referred to as "Sam's brother" , is the first of our overseas jockey's in the line up. He was a top class rider in his own right with over 200 flat and jump winners to his name. Baby Run and Royal Ascot winner Primitivo were among some of his big winners. Willy decided to retire from riding and swapped his jockey silks for a "Nigel" style duffel coat! He now concentrates on bloodstock purchases and assisting his father Nigel with the training side of things. WIlly is also keen to explore his good friend Cyril Crowe's new venture into dairy farming while on his flying visit, so there could be cows in Grange Hill Farm yet!
Ken Whelan
Ken Whelan is definitely the joker in the pack. His childhood dream was to score a match-winning side cut and captain his beloved Waterford to All Ireland success, but sadly a combination of tight hamstrings and a bad knee curtailed all that. One of most popular men in racing Ken enjoyed a great career with Risk of Thunder, Breyani, Stop The Walker and Buck Roger being just some of his big winners. Nowadays a successful jockey’s agent, Ken can often be seen wielding a microphone at Tipperary Races. Rumour has it, he can’t wait to be back in the saddle, so expect plenty of antics and mischief!
Clive Earley
Clive Earley is a hugely popular local rider. He is better known firstly as a hurler, secondly as a musician and thirdly as a rider!! A natural lightweight, Clive has been kindly allowed to muck out at his neighbour Derek O'Connor’s stables in preparation for the big day. Gifted with his hands, means that he can drop out and put a horse to sleep. Clive’s biggest fear will be finishing last as his father Fintan was tailed off in the over 50's race at Bellharbour, two years ago and still hasn't lived it down.
Sam Curling
Sam Curling is one of the rising stars of horse training talent in the country having recently trained his 100th Point to Point winner. He also has produced and sold some top class performers such as Summerville Boy and Longhouse Poet. An accomplished rider himself he served as a conditional jockey to both Willie Mullins and Nicky Henderson. Before his retirement from the saddle Sam, was one of the main work riders in Ballydoyle for Aidan O'Brien and was the main work rider for St. Nicholas Abbey.
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Paurick O'Connor
Older brother to Derek, Paurick claims he got the looks and Derek got the talent!! Paurick runs a successful Point-to-Point training yard with champion hurdler winner Espoir d'Allen and Vision Des Flos just some of the horses to pass through his hands. His mount for the race is a recently broken youngster who according to Paurick is the next big thing!! On his third day riding he schooled in Dromahane and in the last week he's been to Glencairn, Boulta and up the Old Vic at the Curragh. When asked for a quote Paurick said; "Aeroplane...and he's for sale!!”
Brian McMahon
A hugely popular All-Ireland winning hurler, Brian was the poster boy for Clare Hurling in the 90s and even earned himself a gold card for Coppers nightclub. When the fame dried up he turned his hand to horse training and proved to be equally as talented. Powersbomb, Seskinane, and Sé mo Laoch are some of his big winners from his ever expanding stable.
Paul Hourigan
From one of Limerick’s best known racing families, Paul had a successful career in the saddle and won back to back Clonmel Oil Chases on Doran’s Pride but is probably more famous for knocking the legend Beef Or Salmon over hurdles in Limerick!! Paul has enjoyed life over in the UK since retiring as a jockey and has raised his concern about not fitting into his jodhpurs for the race, but Paul Carberry was quick on hand to offer some of his own brand pull-ups and pair of wellies to help out.
Graham Bradley
"The Wayward Lad" was one of the most gifted riders of his time and is an extremely popular character among the racing public. In a colourful career, Graham won all the big races; The Cheltenham Cup with Bregawn, Hennessy's with Sunny Bay, and who can forget his ride on Collier Bay in the Champion Hurdle. Graham is flying over Saturday evening for the race and we've put his host Jason Titley in charge of making sure there's no power cuts so that he doesn't sleep in for Sunday’s race!!
John Staunton
John is a hugely popular local figure and a renowned horse man!! He is known to be extremely hard working and the go-to man around Clare with any training problems. In fact John is the assistant trainer to so many of the horse trainers in Clare that if you added up all the winners he has been involved with in the last 12 months, he'd currently be 4th in the trainers title behind Gordon Elliott, Willie Mullins and Henry de Bromhead!!
Norman Lee
The Lee name has forever been associated with both horseracing and the Burren. Norman's father Christy trained the1973 Galway Hurdle winner Lesabelle in the fields close to Bellharbour's Point to Point track. When Norman began riding in Point-to-Points he wanted to be called "Storming Norman" and despite riding a few winners, the name tag was short-lived! Since switching to the training ranks, Norman has enjoyed a very fruitful return with Sole Pretender his stable star!
Tom Keating
Hugely popular in the racing world, Tom runs one of biggest Point to Point nurseries in the country. His Tipperary based yard has produced a host of top class performers with recent Ladbrokes Trophy winner, De Rasher Counter, the current flag-bearer. Tom has been taking this race very seriously; he's off the fags, running the roads, and getting daily coaching sessions from his better half Liz Lalor! When asked for a quote Tom said "I'm just looking forward to a Sunday off from babysitting. Liz is off every Sunday and there's only so much Pegga Pig you can watch."
Trevor Horgan
Trevor is the brother-in-law of the legend that is Pat Smullen, the inspiration behind this race. Trevor himself was one of the country's top lightweight jockeys and one of his many big successes was steering Life of a Lord to win the Galway Plate. Trevor now trains and produces young National Hunt horses with O'Faolain's Boy one of his past graduates.
