Swan, Charlie

Until Ruby Walsh came along, Charlie could quite justifiably be recognised as the greatest Irish-based jockey of the modern era.

Born on January 20, 1968, he was the only son of former British Army captain Donald and his wife Teresa.

Donald had Charlie riding at the age of four who, when eight, would help break in horses for his trainer father.

Aged 15, Charlie rode his first winner, his father's Final Assault in a 2-y-o maiden at Naas in March, 1983.

He then became apprenticed to Kevin Prendergast for whom he rode 57 winners.

Charlie broke his leg in 1984: consequently, during his convalescence, Charlie's weight shot up and he was forced to consider a life as a jump jockey.

As such, he had a horrendous start: breaking an arm at the 1987 Cheltenham Festival, the ambulance taking him to hospital crashed into a car. However, within three years, he'd stood his bad luck on its head.

Riding the Mouse Morris-trained Trapper John, he won the 1990 Stayers' Hurdle at Cheltenham, his first win at the Festival and the first Irish success there in two years.

Other big winners which came his way included Ebony Jane (Irish Grand National) and two Whitbreads (Ushers Island, 1994, & Life of a Lord 1996).

Charlie was twice the leading jockey at the Cheltenham Festival - 1993 & 1994 - and will always be associated with the mighty Istabraq, who won at the Festival four years in a row and on which he won 23 races in total.

Charlie did well at Aintree riding 10 winners, but the National, despite 8 attempts, was beyond his reach.

He was once offered £100 by his father for every fence he led on Lastofthebrownies. The combination exceeded expectations to finish fifth.

With an eye to the future, Charlie began build up sizeable stables behind the family's ancient country home outside the village of Cloughjordan. Though only 30, the fire for racing had all but disappeared. He decided only to race over hurdles, killing any chance of becoming champion jockey for the tenth time.

Charlie's last winner came on the eve of the 2003 Grand National when winning a listed hurdle race on Patriot Games at 16/1.

Next day, he climbed up on Like-A-Butterfly and finished 3rd in the Martell Cognac Aintree Hurdle.

That was his last ride in public.

Charlie's Cheltenham Victories

1990 Stayers Hurdle Trapper John

1993 Supreme Novices' Hurdle Montelado

1993 Stakis Final Fissure Seal

1993 Triumph Hurdle Shawiya

1993 Stayers Hurdle Shuil Ar Aghaidh

1994 Royal & Sun Alliance Hurdle Danoli

1994 Coral Cup Time For A Run

1994 Champion Bumper Mucklemeg