Page 19 - Derek Oconnor News Today : Breaking News, Live Updates & Top Stories | Vimarsana

The Cheltenham Festival in 2021 will mark the first time it has been run without the presence of Clare jockey Derek O’Connor since he first began race riding almost 20 years ago. Amateur riders will not be permitted at this year’s Festival as they are not considered “elite” under the Government’s coronavirus rules. The Festival contains three major amateur races, including the Foxhunter Chase which is often dubbed the “amateur Gold Cup”. The amateur races will still go ahead, but horses will be ridden by professional jockeys. Tubber native O’Connor, who has ridden winners at t...

Amateur riders will not be permitted at this year’s Cheltenham Festival as they are not considered ‘elite’ under the Government’s coronavirus rules

HENRY DE BROMHEAD and Rachael Blackmore combined to claim two winners on the belated final day of the Christmas Racing Festival at Limerick. The six-race card was saved and swiftly re-scheduled to a midweek slot, following Sunday’s abandonment because of a waterlogged track. Proceedings got under way with the ‘David Fitzgerald – Take It Easee’ Maiden Hurdle, which saw French import Kalkas open his Irish account at the second attempt. Third on his only start in his homeland a year ago, Kalkas subsequently changed hands for £210,000, but was comprehensively beaten on his debut for De B...