Top notch ending for Conor O’Dwyer

The career of Conor O’Dwyer came to an end yesterday in the most perfect of scenarios as he ended his 25 year career with a winner in his final race at Fairyhouse aboard Mister Top Notch. 
 

O’Dwyer (42) has decided to call time on his riding career in order to concentrate fully on his burgeoning training career. He was originally going to retire at the Cheltenham festival if he rode a winner. 

When that failed to happen he decided that he would wait until the Easter festival at Fairyhouse. 

After weighing in for the last time, O’Dwyer explained why now is the right time to retire. “It was the right time to go” O’Dwyer said. 

“I said to my wife Audrey that I thought his horse had a chance and win or loose this was going to be my last ride. It couldn’t have worked out better”

The highlights for O’Dwyer in an outstanding career will be the two victories in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, where he guided Imperial Call in 1996 and War Of Attrition ten years later to victory. 

He will also be remembered fondly for partnering Hardy Eustace to his Champion Hurdle successes. 

He said “Obviously the victories at Cheltenham were very special and the two Melling wins on Native Upmanship were also up there”

O’Dwyer hopes that his training career will be as successful as his riding one was, but he is realistic about the challenge that awaits him. 

“It’s not going to happen overnight and I still have plenty of empty boxes where I train, but I have a nice bunch of horses”

Michael O’Leary, the owner of War of Attrition led the tributes to O’Dwyer. “Conor is one of the greatest jockeys to have come out of Ireland and his record at Cheltenham is a testament to that”

“He was one of the most popular men in the weighroom” O’Leary added, “and I am sure he will make an even better trainer”. 

Champion Irish jump jockey Ruby Walsh had this to say about O’Dwyer. “From the first day I got to know him he was a gent all the way”.

- Alan Conway