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Niall McCullagh proving age is just a number ahead of Galway return

The 55-year-old's Guinness Handicap win on Brazil was one of the highlights of the 2023 Festival

Monday, 22 July 2024
Niall McCullagh proving age is just a number ahead of Galway return

Niall McCullagh (second from left) following his Guinness Handicap triumph on Brazil in 2023

Galway is so special every year, for the last month everyone has been talking about it

Few have a longer association with Galway than Niall McCullagh and the 55-year-old is hoping to roll back the years once again at the iconic meeting as he continues to show that age is just a number.

McCullagh provided one of the feelgood stories of last year’s festival with his win on board Brazil in the Guinness Handicap, 35 years on from his first victory around the same track.

He returns this year determined to seize however many opportunities may come his way, with the memories of his landmark success 12 months ago still fresh.

“I can’t believe it’s nearly a year ago,” he said. “I remember it like it was yesterday.

“I got a great kick out of it and still do. I’m looking forward to getting up there again and hopefully we can find another one.

“I was confident last year until I saw him (Brazil) run really badly the day before, when he pulled up in the Hurdle.

“But maybe that was a blessing in disguise, as he looked after himself and the race worked out well.

“I got in a nice spot down the hill and it just worked out on the day. It’s great when it does in a big race like that and I’ve been very lucky in that Handicap over the years, it was my fifth time winning it. It was special.”

The identity of the winning trainer, Padraig Roche, made the success even more memorable for the veteran jockey given their longstanding family ties.

“I spent a lot of winters in India and Christy Roche was there,” McCullagh said.

“Paudie was just a kid running around the place so to win the big Friday handicap in Galway for him meant a lot to me.

“The amount of texts and calls I got blew me away. I’m at the end of my career now and I got a great buzz out of it.

“Some of the trainers I’d ridden for in India dropped me a line, and friends in Australia. It’s a small world now with social media. It was a great day.”

McCullagh still savours his breakthrough success at Galway in 1988, for Paddy Mullins on Feverstown, and he is far from the only young jockey to make the most of a springboard during the famous week.

Colin Keane and Danny Gilligan have since followed suit, the latter winning the Galway Plate on Ash Tree Meadow last year, and McCullagh is looking forward to seeing who makes 2024 their own.

“If you go down through the records, every year someone breaks through,” he said.

“It always throws a story, it’s a unique place and it’s an idiosyncratic track, some horses excel there and can run two or three times during the week.

“My win there in 1988 set me up for my career. It got me noticed, I was on RTE, it means a lot and it’s so popular with the Irish public. The reaction of the crowd and everything, it’s a great place to have a good winner.

“The reaction of the crowd when you’re coming in, you just don’t get that at many other racecourses nowadays.

“The atmosphere is crazy and resonates with so many levels of society. It’s just great craic.”

McCullagh’s son, Scott, followed him into the riding ranks having been brought up watching his father riding at Galway.

That family atmosphere is set to come to the fore again next week and with the 2012 Irish St Leger-winning jockey now in the twilight of his career, he intends to savour every moment.

“Galway is so special every year, for the last month everyone has been talking about it,” he said.

“It resonates with so many people. I’m looking forward to it and have a couple of rides lined up.

“There are a lot of younger jockeys than me vying for the good rides. If I get a couple, I’ll be very happy.

“We were always brought to Galway as kids and we brought our kids there. They realise the significance and importance of it and it’s a great day out, you let the kids loose and they are gone for the day. It’s just fun.”



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