Cross-channel trainers turning to Galway jockey for Cheltenham contenders

DEREK O’Connor – the record-breaking point-to-point jockey – has been adding a new string to his bow ahead of next week’s Cheltenham National Hunt Festival.

At the age of 36, O’Connor probably thought he had done it all as one of the most respected and successful amateur riders ever. Apart from being a multiple champion between the flags, he had also over ridden over 1,200 winners in that sphere.

Furthermore, O’Connor was the leading amateur rider on the track in the 2003/04 season with 31 winners and last year he achieved a first ever Grade One triumph when steering Edwulf to an emotional success in the Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown.

There have also been three Cheltenham festival wins – on the John Earls owned Chicago Grey and Zemskey in 2011, and Minella Rocco five years later – and he has now forged a successful alliance with the burgeoning yard of Joseph O’Brien.

As a successful rider, O’Connor hasn’t too many boxers  left to tick, but in the current season he has become the go-to jockey for a couple of cross-channel yards which are plotting a course towards the Cheltenham festival’s amateur races.

In Warwick last January, O’Connor got the leg up on OK Corral in a classy novice chase over three miles. The nine-year-old’s trainer was none other than current UK champion Nicky Henderson, who has been associated with many turf legends like See You Then and Sprinter Sacre.

Typically, O’Connor bided his time on Ok Corral, a close second to Delta Work in last year’s Albert Bartlett Hurdle, before nudging the 11/4 favourite into the lead on the approach to the last, and winning by six lengths from Secret Investor.

“It was a bit of a feather in the cap to get the call from Nicky and it’s a great to be associated with such a top trainer. It was a good day. Ok Coral travelled sweetly and jumped well. He’s very classy.”

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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