Richie Condon: ‘It’s a really long time to live with a knot in your stomach — to fear what could happen’

Richie Condon’s career was nearly finished before it ever got going after being accused falsely of rape but though he is currently out of action with a back injury, the Corkman has now enjoyed a level of success many jockeys can only dream of

Richie Condon on board as Heaven Help Us leads the pack over a flight of hurdles on his way to winning the Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham last March. Picture: Getty Images

Round and round, up and down they go — that is the life of a jump jockey. Highest highs and lowest lows. They come physically and mentally crashing down to earth at times and in rare cases can find their world caving in around them.

Richie Condon has been there, done it all and come through the other side. It probably took a little longer than he had originally anticipated but he has now arrived on the big stage, having won major races at the Dublin Racing Festival, the Cheltenham Festival, a Grade 1 at Belmont in the US and, most recently, the American Grand National.