Niall McCullagh

A jockey coaching programme that will see five qualified jockey coaches provide mentoring and specialised skills coaching across a range of subject areas to support and enhance the career development of all licensed jockeys in Ireland was launched by Horse Racing Ireland (HRI)'s equuip on Thursday. All five jockey coaches are former riders. The coaches and their regions are as follows: Nina Carberry (Meath and North regions), Paddy Flood and Niall McCullagh (East and Midlands regions), Robbie Moran (South region), and Derek O'Connor (Western region). Former champion jockey Barry Geraghty,...

They say the Galway Festival has an unrelenting ability to provide a springboard for young jockeys. Ride a winner at the Galway Festival on terrestrial television and it's worth 10 around the country tracks.  Think of the baby-faced Colin Keane storming to Topaz Mile glory aboard Brendan Brackan (Ire) (Big Bad Bob {Ire}) for his boss Ger Lyons back in 2013 as a five-pound claimer.  Just last week, we had local boy Danny Gilligan earning the plaudits for his front-running masterclass aboard Gordon Elliott's Ash Tree Meadow (Fr) (Bonbon Rose...

Two progressive 3-year-old fillies fought out the finish of Wednesday's rescheduled G3 Coolmore No Nay Never Fairy Bridge S., with Fitzwilliam Racing's Champers Elysees (Ire) (Elzaam {Aus}) emerging on top of Haras de Saint Pair's Pearls Galore (Fr) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) in what could turn out to be a signpost to bigger things for both. Last seen winning by seven lengths in the Listed Corrib Fillies S. over seven furlongs at Galway July 28, Champers Elysees who traded as the 5-6 favourite going an extra half furlong here tracked the...