Person: Pat Smullen

Pat Smullen to take part in charity race at the Curragh

Pat Smullen will return to the saddle one last time, for charity, this September.

Tue, 23 Jul, 2019

The Daragh Ó Conchúir Interview: Pat Smullen finally OK with being a non-runner

The Daragh Ó Conchúir Interview He will watch them go to stalls for today’s DDF Irish Derby at the Curragh and, for a moment, wonder.

Sat, 29 Jun, 2019

This week’s Late Late Show line-up revealed

Legendary musician John Sheahan leads a Late Late Show line up including champion jockey Pat Smullen and three of Ireland's leading crime fiction writers.

Thu, 16 May, 2019

'Nothing will replace race riding for me': Champion jockey Pat Smullen retires on medical advice

Nine-time Irish flat champion jockey Pat Smullen has retired from racing on medical advice.

Tue, 07 May, 2019

Best still to come from O'Brien's Magical

Breed the best to the best and hope for the best is an ideology that has been knocking around racing for years.

Sat, 20 Apr, 2019

'The hope is to ride again' - Smullen

Pat Smullen still hopes to make a return to the saddle after he completes his recovery from cancer treatment.

Thu, 21 Mar, 2019

MORNING BULLETIN: Investigation into naming of Belfast rape trial complainant on Twitter; Campaigning gets underway ahead of abortion referendum

Your morning bulletin...

Thu, 29 Mar, 2018

Pat Smullen focused on recovery after tumour diagnosis

Jockey Pat Smullen is “fully focused” on making a complete recovery after he was diagnosed with a tumour.

Thu, 29 Mar, 2018

Jockey Pat Smullen diagnosed with a tumour

The nine-time champion Irish Flat jockey said in a statement that he will not be riding "for the foreseeable future" as he receives medial treatment.

Wed, 28 Mar, 2018

Gordon Elliott still value in title battle with Willie Mullins

The battle between Colin Keane and Pat Smullen, for the flat jockeys’ championship, didn’t half-light up that campaign but, you suspect, it will be nothing compared to what’s in store over the coming months, as Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott again go head-to-head for the National Hunt trainers’ title, writes Pat Keane.

Sat, 18 Nov, 2017

Champion-jockey Colin Keane resumes where he left off

Champion-jockey Colin Keane resumed competitive action where he left off in Naas on Sunday by completing a double for his boss Ger Lyons on two-year-old fillies Palariva and Beckoning in Dundalk last night.

Thu, 09 Nov, 2017

OK Ryan Moore, all is forgiven

Some weeks ago, we gave Ryan Moore plenty of stick for his ride aboard Sir John Lavery in a Group 2 at Leopardstown.

Sat, 28 Oct, 2017

Pat Smullen double eats into Colin Keane’s lead in title race

The nip and tuck nature of the title race between Pat Smullen and Colin Keane was exemplified on two-year-old day in Naas as the nine-times champion registered a double and Keane a single success, balancing Tuesday’s outcome in Dundalk. Keane now leads 80-76.

Thu, 05 Oct, 2017

Galway winner Airlie Beach signs off in style for Willie Mullins

Airlie Beach rounded off her racing career in tremendous style with a typically game success in the Ardilaun Hotel Oyster Stakes at Galway.

Tue, 19 Sep, 2017

Pat Smullen turns up heat on Colin Keane in race for jockey’s title

In a fascinating race for the jockey’s title, reigning champ Pat Smullen has hit a rich vein of form and, following a 1,055-1 four-timer at Roscommon yesterday, is all but breathing down the neck of championship leader Colin Keane.

Tue, 29 Aug, 2017

Ballet Shoes waltzes away with Coolmore Ivawood Stakes

After winning the listed Coolmore Ivawood Stakes in 2016, the Aidan O’Brien-trained Capri went on to much greater things, winning the Irish Derby, and his trainer completed back-to-back victories in the Tipperary race, doing so with a filly, Ballet Shoes.

Sat, 12 Aug, 2017

Pat Smullen excited to take up Irish Derby challenge with cracksman

Pat Smullen is relishing the opportunity to partner Cracksman in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby at the Curragh on Saturday.

Wed, 28 Jun, 2017

Sir John Lavery paints promising picture for next season

The Aidan O’Brien-trained Sir John Lavery, a very promising third on his debut at the Curragh just a week ago, proved the star of yesterday’s Gowran Park action as he romped to an impressive seven lengths win in the one-mile Irish Stallion Farms 2-Y-0 Maiden.

Wed, 19 Oct, 2016

Harzand in ‘tremendous form’ ahead of bid for Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe

Dermot Weld’s dual Derby winner Harzand booked his ticket for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Chantilly on Sunday with an impressive gallop yesterday morning.

Wed, 28 Sep, 2016

Dermot Weld thinks the Chantilly draw will affect Harzand's chances in Arc

Dermot Weld would rather the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe be staged at Longchamp than its temporary home of Chantilly ahead of Harzand's date with destiny on Sunday week.

Wed, 21 Sep, 2016

Listowel festival victory for Famous Milly

After a promising handicap debut at Galway, Famous Milly stepped up to take the featured Irish Stallion Farms EBF Premier Nursery on day two of the Listowel festival, for Gavin Cromwell and jockey Rory Cleary.

Tue, 13 Sep, 2016

Melbourne next as Wicklow Brave springs St Leger shock

Had his career taken a conventional route, Wicklow Brave may well have been spending Champions’ Weekend Sunday limbering up for this week’s Listowel festival, but convention would be far too restrictive for all-conquering, globe-trotting trainer Willie Mullins, who saddled the now seven-year-old, winner of a bumper at the Kerry venue in 2013, to land in the Group 1 Palmerstown House Estate Irish St Leger at the Curragh.

Mon, 12 Sep, 2016

New Bay adds spice to Irish Champion Stakes mix

New Bay is on course to take on the best of this year’s Classic generation in what promises to be a fascinating renewal of the Qipco Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown on Saturday.

Wed, 07 Sep, 2016

David Wachman departure evokes memories of David O’Brien

David Wachman’s announcement this week that he is to retire from training at the end of the season, after some 20 years, encouraged one to reflect on various aspects of this great game.

Sat, 03 Sep, 2016

Prix Morny unlikely to be on Caravaggio’s agenda

“I have to be careful what I say now, don’t I?’’, are the words Aidan O’Brien reportedly muttered in the wake of his Caravaggio enjoying no more than a leisurely stroll on the way to winning the Group 1 Phoenix stakes at the Curragh last Sunday.

Sat, 13 Aug, 2016

Adool gives Dermot Weld another win in ‘Harriet’

For the third time in four years, Dermot Weld won the listed Irish Stallion Farms Hurry Harriet Stakes in Gowran Park last night as Adool, in the colours of Hamdan Al Maktoum, justified 7/4 favouritism in game style.

Thu, 11 Aug, 2016

French import Soul Searcher springs Connacht Oaks surprise for Johnny Murtagh

Having her first run for Johnny Murtagh since arriving from France, 14/1 shot Soul Searcher proved a shock winner of the Irish Stallion Farms Connacht Oaks, run in heavy ground, in Sligo last night.

Thu, 04 Aug, 2016

Best In The World gets the better of Somehow at Mallow

Ballydoyle runners dominated the finish of the featured Irish Stallion Farms EBF Give Thanks Stakes on a high-class card in Mallow, and it was the lesser fancied of the two, Best In The World, who prevailed under Colm O’Donoghue, beating stablemate Somehow by a neck.

Wed, 03 Aug, 2016

Today's tips: Tigris River looks the value option in tricky Galway Hurdle

It’s TheTote.com Galway Hurdle day in Ballybrit and Tigris River looks the value option to land the €177,000 winner’s prize in the feature.

Thu, 28 Jul, 2016

Heavily backed Creggs Pipes calls tune

Andy Slattery’s terrific season continues apace, and the rapidly progressive and heavily backed Creggs Pipes (11-2f) gave him plenty of reason for Galway cheer when making all in the valuable Colm Quinn BMW Mile Handicap on day two of the Festival.

Wed, 27 Jul, 2016

Eziyra a real eye-catcher but Galway will be stiffer task

At Tipperary last Saturday, Dermot Weld’s newcomer, Eziyra, caught the eye of just about everyone watching.

Sun, 17 Jul, 2016

Pat Smullen works a miracle on Xsquared

Oft has champion jockey Pat Smullen received the plaudits for his brilliance in the saddle, but his feat in getting Xsquared around Killarney and home in front in a two-mile-one handicap with a slipped saddle for more than a circuit must rank high amongst the Offaly rider’s most-extraordinary achievements.

Thu, 14 Jul, 2016

Weld considering an appeal after Va Pensiero fails drugs test

Dermot Weld, trainer of dual Derby winner Harzand, said yesterday that he will consider an appeal against a €1,000 fine imposed by the Turf Club’s referrals committee after one of his horses failed a post-race drugs test.

Fri, 01 Jul, 2016

Landmark night for 16-year-old Evan Daly

It was a tale of three jockeys, two present and one absent, in Fairyhouse last night.

Thu, 30 Jun, 2016

Courage and style a potent combination for Harzand

“Champions are made from something they have deep inside them. They have to have the skill, and the will. But the will must be stronger than the skill.” 

Mon, 27 Jun, 2016

Harzand digs deep to leave Dermot Weld dreaming of Arc glory

Fears the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby would devolve into a small-field, modest renewal were allayed when Epsom hero Harzand and third-placed Idaho were declared to run.

Mon, 27 Jun, 2016

Pat Smullen eyes more Derby delight

There isn’t much else for a young fella to do around Rhode other than play football.

Sat, 25 Jun, 2016

Dermot Weld reaches 4,000 winner milestone

Dermot Weld reached a significant milestone in his long and illustrious career in Naas last night when a double, with Discipline in the listed Naas Oaks Trial and Sea Swift in the fillies maiden, saw him reach the 4,000 winner mark.

Thu, 23 Jun, 2016

Pat Smullen on standby for Time Test in Eclipse

Derby-winning jockey Pat Smullen could come in for the ride on leading Coral-Eclipse contender Time Test should his regular partner Ryan Moore be required by Aidan O’Brien.

Wed, 22 Jun, 2016

Pat Smullen: It’s all systems go for Harzand

Pat Smullen has confirmed that it’s all systems go for Harzand to make his bid for a famous Derby double at The Curragh on Saturday.

Tue, 21 Jun, 2016

Pat Smullen hoping for ‘safe’ ground at the Curragh

Pat Smullen is keeping his fingers crossed for safe ground at the Curragh next Saturday to allow Epsom hero Harzand to bid for the Derby double.

Mon, 20 Jun, 2016

Improving Carntop can top his rivals in hands of Fran Berry

On day four of Royal Ascot, Carntop gets the nap to land the King Edward VII Stakes for Ralph Beckett and jockey Fran Berry.

Fri, 17 Jun, 2016

Pretty Perfect leaves poor Guineas run behind

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Michael Creed and several representatives of the Cork Flat Breeders were present for a high-class programme at Mallow racecourse yesterday afternoon, where the featured Munster Oaks went to the Aidan O’Brien-trained Pretty Perfect.

Mon, 13 Jun, 2016

Foxtrot Charlie continues Weld’s rich vein of form

Foxtrot Charlie continued the rich vein of form being enjoyed by Dermot Weld and Pat Smullen when beating his elders in the listed Coral.ie Glencairn Stakes in Leopardstown last night.

Fri, 10 Jun, 2016