Top amateur jockey O’Connor finally lands Ireland’s only Grade One bumper
THERE was hardly anything of substance missing on Derek O’Connor’s impressive CV as an amateur jockey bar a particular race at the annual Punchestown Festival.
It’s the only Grade One Bumper run in Ireland and for over 15 years, the Beagh native had been trying without success to win the race until finally cracking the code last week.
In fact, O’Connor thought he mightn’t even have a ride in last Wednesday’s Champion Bumper until contacted by the all-conquering Willie Mullins’ yard on the eve of the race.
He was offered the mount on Kilcruit, one of the leading fancies, after Patrick Mullins abandoned his Cheltenham runner-up in favour of stable companion, Sir Gerhard, who had sailed home in the festival’s Champion Bumper in March.
O’Connor didn’t need a second invitation and the chance ride couldn’t have gone any better as the strong travelling six-year-old had little difficulty in turning the tables on his Cheltenham conqueror, going clear inside the final furlong from 33/1 outsider O’Toole, with Sir Gerhard completing the placings.
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.
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