Robbie Power
Robbie Power
Robbie Power
Grand National and Cheltenham Gold Cup-winning rider Robbie Power announced his retirement from the saddle at Punchestown in April 2022, bringing the curtain down on an illustrious career in which he had ridden 31 Grade 1 winners.
Grand National and Cheltenham Gold Cup-winning rider Robbie Power announced his retirement from the saddle at Punchestown in April 2022, bringing the curtain down on an illustrious career in which he had ridden 31 Grade 1 winners.
Born on 27 May 1981, and a son of renowned international show-jumper Con Power, Robbie was also successful in that sport in his youth. In fact, he returned to it in 2014 when partnering Doonaveeragh O One to victory in the Speed Derby at Hickstead.
Born on 27 May 1981, and a son of renowned international show-jumper Con Power, Robbie was also successful in that sport in his youth. In fact, he returned to it in 2014 when partnering Doonaveeragh O One to victory in the Speed Derby at Hickstead.
He rode his first winner on Younevertoldme, trained by Jessica Harrington, in a division of the Ballymore Maiden Hurdle at Punchestown on December 19, 2001, beating Ruby Walsh on the favourite King’s Deal by a neck.
He rode his first winner on Younevertoldme, trained by Jessica Harrington, in a division of the Ballymore Maiden Hurdle at Punchestown on December 19, 2001, beating Ruby Walsh on the favourite King’s Deal by a neck.
His first landmark success came on the Paddy Mullins-trained Nearly A Moose in the 2003 Galway Plate when he was still claiming 3lb. The following year he was crowned champion conditional rider.
His first landmark success came on the Paddy Mullins-trained Nearly A Moose in the 2003 Galway Plate when he was still claiming 3lb. The following year he was crowned champion conditional rider.
Robbie first came to prominence in Britain at the age of 25 when winning the 2007 Grand National on 33-1 Irish raider Silver Birch for rookie trainer Gordon Elliott, who, remarkably, had yet to train a winner in his own country. It was Robbie’s second Grand National ride, having made his Aintree debut in 2005 when finishing 18th of 21 finishers on 12-year-old Spot Thedifference, better known for his heroics in winning seven times over Cheltenham’s cross-country chase course, plus two over the Punchestown banks.
Robbie first came to prominence in Britain at the age of 25 when winning the 2007 Grand National on 33-1 Irish raider Silver Birch for rookie trainer Gordon Elliott, who, remarkably, had yet to train a winner in his own country. It was Robbie’s second Grand National ride, having made his Aintree debut in 2005 when finishing 18th of 21 finishers on 12-year-old Spot Thedifference, better known for his heroics in winning seven times over Cheltenham’s cross-country chase course, plus two over the Punchestown banks.
Robbie’s Aintree opportunity aboard Silver Birch came about because Jason Maguire had other commitments, and the element of good fortune on a spare ride was some compensation for missing out on the Queen Mother Champion Chase-winning mount on Newmill in 2006 after he broke his foot in a schooling incident.
Robbie’s Aintree opportunity aboard Silver Birch came about because Jason Maguire had other commitments, and the element of good fortune on a spare ride was some compensation for missing out on the Queen Mother Champion Chase-winning mount on Newmill in 2006 after he broke his foot in a schooling incident.
Long recognised as one of the most natural horsemen in the business, he was something of a late developer and it took trainers a while to realise what an asset he was. The Grand National apart, big race victories were thinly spread in the early years of his career. By 2010 he had only two Grade 1s to his name, but from thereon they flowed.
Long recognised as one of the most natural horsemen in the business, he was something of a late developer and it took trainers a while to realise what an asset he was. The Grand National apart, big race victories were thinly spread in the early years of his career. By 2010 he had only two Grade 1s to his name, but from thereon they flowed.
He rode his first Cheltenham Festival winner aboard Bostons Angel in the 2011 RSA Chase. He gained another Grade 1 victory on that horse the same year when winning the Dr P. J. Moriarty Novice Chase at Leopardstown.
He rode his first Cheltenham Festival winner aboard Bostons Angel in the 2011 RSA Chase. He gained another Grade 1 victory on that horse the same year when winning the Dr P. J. Moriarty Novice Chase at Leopardstown.
He enjoyed a long association with Jessica Harrington, with whom he combined to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup aboard Sizing John during what was a banner year for them in 2017.
He enjoyed a long association with Jessica Harrington, with whom he combined to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup aboard Sizing John during what was a banner year for them in 2017.
The partnership had already plundered the Irish Gold Cup before winning the Cheltenham, version, and they entered the history books when Sizing John became the first horse to complete a Gold Cup hat-trick in the same season by adding the Punchestown edition the following month. In December that year, Robbie rode Sizing John to win the Grade 1 John Durkan Memorial Chase.
The partnership had already plundered the Irish Gold Cup before winning the Cheltenham, version, and they entered the history books when Sizing John became the first horse to complete a Gold Cup hat-trick in the same season by adding the Punchestown edition the following month. In December that year, Robbie rode Sizing John to win the Grade 1 John Durkan Memorial Chase.
Also during that unforgettable year of 2017, the Harrington-Power partnership had three winners at the Cheltenham Festival: Sizing John in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, Supasundae in the Coral Cup, and Rock The World in the Grand Annual. In addition, they won that year’s Irish Grand National with Our Duke.
Also during that unforgettable year of 2017, the Harrington-Power partnership had three winners at the Cheltenham Festival: Sizing John in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, Supasundae in the Coral Cup, and Rock The World in the Grand Annual. In addition, they won that year’s Irish Grand National with Our Duke.
At the time of his Cheltenham Gold Cup win, Robbie was riding a lot of Colin Tizzard’s horses, among them Fox Norton, on which he won the Punchestown Champion Chase and Aintree’s Melling Chase. He enjoyed plenty of success in his frequent forays across the Irish Sea aboard horses like Lostintranslation and Finian’s Oscar.
At the time of his Cheltenham Gold Cup win, Robbie was riding a lot of Colin Tizzard’s horses, among them Fox Norton, on which he won the Punchestown Champion Chase and Aintree’s Melling Chase. He enjoyed plenty of success in his frequent forays across the Irish Sea aboard horses like Lostintranslation and Finian’s Oscar.
Jessica Harrington’s Supasundae provided Robbie with three Grade 1 wins in 2018, landing the Irish Champion Hurdle, the Punchestown Champion Hurdle and the Aintree Hurdle.
Jessica Harrington’s Supasundae provided Robbie with three Grade 1 wins in 2018, landing the Irish Champion Hurdle, the Punchestown Champion Hurdle and the Aintree Hurdle.
Following Ruby Walsh’s retirement at Punchestown in 2019, Robbie got the call from Willie Mullins to step in aboard Chacun Pour Soi in the Ryanair Novice Chase, in which they beat the favourite Defi Du Seuil.
Following Ruby Walsh’s retirement at Punchestown in 2019, Robbie got the call from Willie Mullins to step in aboard Chacun Pour Soi in the Ryanair Novice Chase, in which they beat the favourite Defi Du Seuil.
He also enjoyed a lucrative triumph in the American Grand National for Gordon Elliott with Jury Duty in 2019.
He also enjoyed a lucrative triumph in the American Grand National for Gordon Elliott with Jury Duty in 2019.
Alongside the victories, Robbie compiled a catalogue of injuries. They included spending four months on the sidelines in 2021 following back surgery and, having returned in October, 11 days later he suffered a horror fall from Hans Gruber at Tramore, breaking his nose and cheekbone, tearing tendons in his arm and fracturing his hip. That kept him on the sidelines until the end of January 2022.
Alongside the victories, Robbie compiled a catalogue of injuries. They included spending four months on the sidelines in 2021 following back surgery and, having returned in October, 11 days later he suffered a horror fall from Hans Gruber at Tramore, breaking his nose and cheekbone, tearing tendons in his arm and fracturing his hip. That kept him on the sidelines until the end of January 2022.
He rode his last two winners at the 2022 Punchestown Festival, landing the Lord Fitzgerald Hotel Hurdle on Wednesday, April 27 on Crosshill for Jessica Harrington, and a two-mile handicap chase on Magic Daze for Henry de Bromhead on Thursday, April 28.
He rode his last two winners at the 2022 Punchestown Festival, landing the Lord Fitzgerald Hotel Hurdle on Wednesday, April 27 on Crosshill for Jessica Harrington, and a two-mile handicap chase on Magic Daze for Henry de Bromhead on Thursday, April 28.
Having announced his retirement, he had his final ride on Teahupoo, who finished last of six behind Honeysuckle in the Punchestown Champion Hurdle on Friday, April 29, 2022.
Having announced his retirement, he had his final ride on Teahupoo, who finished last of six behind Honeysuckle in the Punchestown Champion Hurdle on Friday, April 29, 2022.
Elaborating on his decision to retire, he explained: “Injury, basically. I had my back operated on last summer and fractured my hip when I came back in October. I’m 41 next month so I’m not getting any younger. I had injections in my hip and it just didn’t really work, so the last couple of months have been hard work.”
Elaborating on his decision to retire, he explained: “Injury, basically. I had my back operated on last summer and fractured my hip when I came back in October. I’m 41 next month so I’m not getting any younger. I had injections in my hip and it just didn’t really work, so the last couple of months have been hard work.”
During his 21-year career, Robbie rode 665 winners, 31 of them at Grade 1 level.
During his 21-year career, Robbie rode 665 winners, 31 of them at Grade 1 level.
Grand National: Silver Birch (2007)
Grand National: Silver Birch (2007)
Cheltenham Gold Cup: Sizing John (2017)
Cheltenham Gold Cup: Sizing John (2017)
Other big race winners included:
Other big race winners included:
In Ireland
In Ireland
2002: Greenmount Park Novice Chase - Intelligent
2002: Greenmount Park Novice Chase - Intelligent
2003: Galway Plate – Nearly A Moose
2003: Galway Plate – Nearly A Moose
2005: Dt P. J. Moriarty Novice Chase – Carrigeen Victor
2005: Dt P. J. Moriarty Novice Chase – Carrigeen Victor
2006: Kinloch Brae Chase – Newmill
2006: Kinloch Brae Chase – Newmill
2006: Irish Daily Mirror Hurdle – Sir Overbury
2006: Irish Daily Mirror Hurdle – Sir Overbury
2010: Neville Hotels Novice Chase – Bostons Angel
2010: Neville Hotels Novice Chase – Bostons Angel
2010: Navan Novice Hurdle – Oscars Well
2010: Navan Novice Hurdle – Oscars Well
2011: Dt P. J. Moriarty Novice Chase – Bostons Angel
2011: Dt P. J. Moriarty Novice Chase – Bostons Angel
2011: Paddy Power Dial A Bet Chase – Big Zeb
2011: Paddy Power Dial A Bet Chase – Big Zeb
2011: Flyingbolt Novice Chase – Saludos
2011: Flyingbolt Novice Chase – Saludos
2011: Chanelle Pharma Novice Hurdle – Oscars Well
2011: Chanelle Pharma Novice Hurdle – Oscars Well
2011: Fortria Chase – Big Zeb
2011: Fortria Chase – Big Zeb
2012: Future Champions Novice Hurdle – Jezki
2012: Future Champions Novice Hurdle – Jezki
2013: Galway Hurdle – Missunited
2013: Galway Hurdle – Missunited
2015: Klairon Davis Novice Chase – Ttebob
2015: Klairon Davis Novice Chase – Ttebob
2016: Thyestes Chase – My Murphy
2016: Thyestes Chase – My Murphy
2016: Neville Hotels Novice Chase – Our Duke
2016: Neville Hotels Novice Chase – Our Duke
2017: Kinloch Brae Chase – Sizing John
2017: Kinloch Brae Chase – Sizing John
2017: Irish Gold Cup – Sizing John
2017: Irish Gold Cup – Sizing John
2017: Irish Grand National – Our Duke
2017: Irish Grand National – Our Duke
2107: Punchestown Champion Chase – Fox Norton
2107: Punchestown Champion Chase – Fox Norton
2017: Punchestown Gold Cup – Sizing John
2017: Punchestown Gold Cup – Sizing John
2017: Craddockstown Novice Chase – Woodland Opera
2017: Craddockstown Novice Chase – Woodland Opera
2017: Florida Pearl Novice Chase – Jury Duty
2017: Florida Pearl Novice Chase – Jury Duty
2017: John Durkan Memorial Chase – Sizing John
2017: John Durkan Memorial Chase – Sizing John
2018: Irish Champion Hurdle – Supasundae
2018: Irish Champion Hurdle – Supasundae
2018: Red Mills Chase – Our Duke
2018: Red Mills Chase – Our Duke
2018: Red Mills Trial Hurdle – Forge Meadow
2018: Red Mills Trial Hurdle – Forge Meadow
2018: Punchestown Champion Hurdle – Supasundae
2018: Punchestown Champion Hurdle – Supasundae
2018: Champion Four Year Old Hurdle – Saldier
2018: Champion Four Year Old Hurdle – Saldier
2018: Gowran Park Champion Chase – Woodland Opera
2018: Gowran Park Champion Chase – Woodland Opera
2019: Champion Novice Hurdle – Reserve Tank
2019: Champion Novice Hurdle – Reserve Tank
2019: Ryanair Novice Chase – Chacun Por Soi
2019: Ryanair Novice Chase – Chacun Por Soi
2020: Flyingbolt Novice Chase – Sizing Potsie
2020: Flyingbolt Novice Chase – Sizing Potsie
2021: Like A Butterly Novice Chase – Gin On Lime
2021: Like A Butterly Novice Chase – Gin On Lime
2022: Red Mills Trial Hurdle – Teahupoo
2022: Red Mills Trial Hurdle – Teahupoo
In Great Britain
In Great Britain
2011: RSA Insurance Novices’ Chase – Bostons Angel
2011: RSA Insurance Novices’ Chase – Bostons Angel
2017: Coral Cup – Supasundae
2017: Coral Cup – Supasundae
2017: Grand Annual Chase – Rock The World
2017: Grand Annual Chase – Rock The World
2017: Mersey Novices’ Hurdle – Finan’s Oscar
2017: Mersey Novices’ Hurdle – Finan’s Oscar
2017: Melling Chase – Fox Norton
2017: Melling Chase – Fox Norton
2017: Top Novices’ Hurdle – Pingshou
2017: Top Novices’ Hurdle – Pingshou
2018: Manifesto Novices’ Chase – Finian’s Oscar
2018: Manifesto Novices’ Chase – Finian’s Oscar
2019: Dipper Novices’ Chase – Lostintranslation
2019: Dipper Novices’ Chase – Lostintranslation
2019: Reynoldstown Novices’ Chase – Mister Malarky
2019: Reynoldstown Novices’ Chase – Mister Malarky
2019: Aintree Hurdle – Supasundae
2019: Aintree Hurdle – Supasundae
2019: Mersey Novices’ Hurdle – Reserve Tank
2019: Mersey Novices’ Hurdle – Reserve Tank
2019: Mildmay Novices’ Chase – Lostintranslation
2019: Mildmay Novices’ Chase – Lostintranslation
2019: Colin Parker Intermediate Chase – Lostintranslation
2019: Colin Parker Intermediate Chase – Lostintranslation
2019: Betfair Chase – Lostintranslation
2019: Betfair Chase – Lostintranslation
2019: Kauto Star Novices’ Chase – Slate House
2019: Kauto Star Novices’ Chase – Slate House
2020: Tolworth Hurdle – Fiddlerontheroof
2020: Tolworth Hurdle – Fiddlerontheroof
In United States
In United States
2018: Grand National Hurdle Stakes- Jury Duty
2018: Grand National Hurdle Stakes- Jury Duty