BY MICHAEL O’LEARY
The Galway Races went under the radar this year, with The Olympic Games in Paris taking centre stage highlighted by the wonderful success of the Irish.
One man who enjoyed a memorable week in the West was Donagh Meyler from Kilmacow, as he won his secondnd Galway Plate in a thrilling finish following victory on The 20/1 shot Pinkerton trained by Noel Meade.
It was a second Galway Plate triumph for Donagh after he partnered the Gordon Elliott trained Lord Scoundrel to win in 2016 in what was also an Olympic year.
Donagh rode his first winner under rules on March 1st 2015 in Navan, when he partnered the Tony Martin trained Anibale Fly to a bumper victory. He would enjoy further glory on Anibale Fly in one of the most prestigous handicaps, The Paddy Power Chase at The Leopardstown Christmas Festival in 2017.
Anibale Fly would go on to perform very well at the highest level, as he was placed twice in both The Cheltenham Gold Cup and The Aintree Grand National in 2018 and 2019.
He was a staying on thisrd in The 2018 Gold Cup, before finishing 2nd behind the Willie Mullins trained Al Boum Photo in 2019.
Tiger Roll won The Aintree Grand National in both years that Anibale Fly was placed, and The Kilmacow man would enjoy big race success on the dual National winner in The Munster National at Limerick in 2016. That Munster National triumph in 2016 reignited Tiger Roll’s career, who had lost his way after winning the Triumph Hurdle in 2014 for the first of his five victories at The Cheltenham Festival. Tiger Roll would go on to win The National Hunt Chase in 2017 with Lisa O’Neill in the saddle, before winning The Cross Country Chase in 2018, 2019 and 2021.
Donagh quickly established himself as one of the leading conditional riders earlier on in his career, and the Karl Thornton trained Colms Dream was a great money spinner as he won five races.
His first Cheltenham Festival winner came in 2018 when he partnered the Gordon Elliott trained Blow By Blow to win the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle.
He enjoyed a big race triumph at The Listowel Festival in 2019 when partnering Razoul for Dunnamaggin trainer Ray Cody to win The Liam Healy Lartique Handicap Hurdle, while the 2020-2021 was his best with 26 winners.
Donagh only rode 15 winners in the 2021-2022 season, but he enjoyed a day to remember in Fairyhouse on New Years Day with his first ever treble.
He would end 2022 on a high with a big race victory, also in Fairyhouse as he partnered The Emmet Mullins trained Merlin Giant to win The €100,000 BarOneRacing.Com Handicap Hurdle ahead of the recent Galway Plate winner Pinkerton that Donagh was on board.
Further success came for the Emmet Mullins stable at last years Punchestown Festival, as Donagh won his first Grade 1 aboard Feronily in The Champion Novice Steeplechase.
Following on from his recent Galway Plate triumph, Donagh was in the winners enclosure again in the West the following week in Roscommon as his victory aboard Le Grand Vert was the 175th in his career.
One has to have great admiration for the South Kilkenny man, as his hard graft over the past decade has seen him deservedly rewarded for his hardworking efforts.
It’s difficult in the sense for him and others to shine on the big stage considering the dominance of Willie Mullins, and also leading trainers like Gordon Elliott and Henry De Bromhead regularly supplying contenders for the featured races.
However, Donagh has kept plugging away and a 2nd Galway Plate is testament to his persistence and hard work that rewarded him with one of the highlights of his career.
Donagh will be hoping to keep the partnership with Pinkerton intact, if they line-up in The Kerry National at next weeks Listowel Festival.
