Noel Fehily
One of the best and most consistent jump jockeys of recent times, Donal Noel Fehily was born on December 24, 1975. Like many a fledgling Irish jockey, he started by riding in pony races and point-to-points around his native West Cork. His parents had a couple of point-to-pointers and he went on to ride about 70 winners in that sphere.
One of the best and most consistent jump jockeys of recent times, Donal Noel Fehily was born on December 24, 1975. Like many a fledgling Irish jockey, he started by riding in pony races and point-to-points around his native West Cork. His parents had a couple of point-to-pointers and he went on to ride about 70 winners in that sphere.
Having spent one summer at David Nicholson’s, Noel returned to Ireland for another year or so. He rode his first winner under rules on Desertmore for trainer Finbarr Sheehy in a Clonmel hunter chase on February 5, 1998.
Having spent one summer at David Nicholson’s, Noel returned to Ireland for another year or so. He rode his first winner under rules on Desertmore for trainer Finbarr Sheehy in a Clonmel hunter chase on February 5, 1998.
Later that year he got an offer from Lambourn trainer Charlie Mann to ride as an amateur in England. He jumped at the chance and rode his first British winner on Ivy Boy in a maiden chase at Plumpton on November 16, 1998.
Later that year he got an offer from Lambourn trainer Charlie Mann to ride as an amateur in England. He jumped at the chance and rode his first British winner on Ivy Boy in a maiden chase at Plumpton on November 16, 1998.
He achieved his first big race success on Moral Support in the 2000 Rehearsal Chase at Chepstow. They then finished second in the Welsh Grand National and went off 10-1 co-favourites for the 2001 Grand National. However, Moral Support was one of ten horses put out of the race at the Canal Turn that year when the riderless Paddy’s Return ran across the fence. Noel finished that 2000-01 season as champion conditional jockey with 42 winners.
He achieved his first big race success on Moral Support in the 2000 Rehearsal Chase at Chepstow. They then finished second in the Welsh Grand National and went off 10-1 co-favourites for the 2001 Grand National. However, Moral Support was one of ten horses put out of the race at the Canal Turn that year when the riderless Paddy’s Return ran across the fence. Noel finished that 2000-01 season as champion conditional jockey with 42 winners.
Among his favourite horses was Celibate, with whom he enjoyed a long association, winning the 2001 Desert Orchid Chase at Wincanton and finishing second in that year’s Grade 1 Ascot Chase. He also rode him into eighth place in the 2002 Grand National. He achieved his best Grand National placing when finishing fourth on Blacklion in 2017.
Among his favourite horses was Celibate, with whom he enjoyed a long association, winning the 2001 Desert Orchid Chase at Wincanton and finishing second in that year’s Grade 1 Ascot Chase. He also rode him into eighth place in the 2002 Grand National. He achieved his best Grand National placing when finishing fourth on Blacklion in 2017.
Noel had to wait until 2008 before registering his first Grade 1 victory, that coming on Air Force One in the 2008 Champion Novice Chase at Punchestown. He went on to ride a total of 27 Grade 1 winners over the course of the next ten years, six of them coming on Silviniaco Conti. They included two Champion Hurdles on Rock On Ruby in 2012 and Buveur D’Air in 2017; the Queen Mother Champion Chase on Special Tiara in 2017; and back-to-back triumphs in the King George VI Chase on Silviniaco Conti in 2013 and 2014.
Noel had to wait until 2008 before registering his first Grade 1 victory, that coming on Air Force One in the 2008 Champion Novice Chase at Punchestown. He went on to ride a total of 27 Grade 1 winners over the course of the next ten years, six of them coming on Silviniaco Conti. They included two Champion Hurdles on Rock On Ruby in 2012 and Buveur D’Air in 2017; the Queen Mother Champion Chase on Special Tiara in 2017; and back-to-back triumphs in the King George VI Chase on Silviniaco Conti in 2013 and 2014.
He finished in fourth place in the jockeys’ championship on four occasions, in 2008-09, 2013-14, 2015-16 and 2017-18. He enjoyed his best season numerically in 2013-14 with 127 winners in Britain plus one in Ireland.
He finished in fourth place in the jockeys’ championship on four occasions, in 2008-09, 2013-14, 2015-16 and 2017-18. He enjoyed his best season numerically in 2013-14 with 127 winners in Britain plus one in Ireland.
He rode seven Cheltenham Festival winners, the last of them coming on 50-1 shot Eglantine Du Seuil in the Tattersalls’ Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle in 2019. Following that victory, he announced his imminent retirement from the saddle.
He rode seven Cheltenham Festival winners, the last of them coming on 50-1 shot Eglantine Du Seuil in the Tattersalls’ Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle in 2019. Following that victory, he announced his imminent retirement from the saddle.
That day came at Newbury on March 23, 2019. Aged 43, he went out on a winning note when winning the Goffs UK Spring Sale Bumper on the Harry Fry-trained Get In The Queue. He rode a total of 1,354 winners over jumps (1,337 in Britain, 15 in Ireland, plus two British Flat races).
That day came at Newbury on March 23, 2019. Aged 43, he went out on a winning note when winning the Goffs UK Spring Sale Bumper on the Harry Fry-trained Get In The Queue. He rode a total of 1,354 winners over jumps (1,337 in Britain, 15 in Ireland, plus two British Flat races).
Noel Fehily’s full list of Grade 1 wins is as follows:
Noel Fehily’s full list of Grade 1 wins is as follows:
2008: Champion Novice Chase (Air Force One).
2008: Champion Novice Chase (Air Force One).
2010: Tingle Creek Chase (Master Minded)
2010: Tingle Creek Chase (Master Minded)
2012: Scilly Isle Novices’ Chase (For Non Stop), Champion Hurdle (Rock On Ruby).
2012: Scilly Isle Novices’ Chase (For Non Stop), Champion Hurdle (Rock On Ruby).
2013: King George VI Chase (Silviniaco Conti)
2013: King George VI Chase (Silviniaco Conti)
2014: Betfred Bowl Chase (Silviniaco Conti), Betfair Chase (Silviniaco Conti), Henry VIII Novices’ Chase (Vibrato Valtat), King George VI Chase (Silviniaco Conti), Challow Novices’ Hurdle (Parlour Games).
2014: Betfred Bowl Chase (Silviniaco Conti), Betfair Chase (Silviniaco Conti), Henry VIII Novices’ Chase (Vibrato Valtat), King George VI Chase (Silviniaco Conti), Challow Novices’ Hurdle (Parlour Games).
2015: Clarence House Chase (Dodging Bullets), Mares Novice Hurdle Championship Final (Bitofapuzzle), Betfred Bowl Chase (Silviniaco Conti), Celebration Chase (Special Tiara).
2015: Clarence House Chase (Dodging Bullets), Mares Novice Hurdle Championship Final (Bitofapuzzle), Betfred Bowl Chase (Silviniaco Conti), Celebration Chase (Special Tiara).
2016: Ascot Chase (Silviniaco Conti), Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle (Unowhatimeanharry), Top Novices’ Hurdle (Buveur D’Air), Henry VIII Novices’ Chase (Altior).
2016: Ascot Chase (Silviniaco Conti), Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle (Unowhatimeanharry), Top Novices’ Hurdle (Buveur D’Air), Henry VIII Novices’ Chase (Altior).
2017: Champion Hurdle (Buveur D’Air), Queen Mother Champion Chase (Special Tiara), Manifesto Novices’ Chase (Flying Angel), Champion Stayers Hurdle (Unowhatimeanharry).
2017: Champion Hurdle (Buveur D’Air), Queen Mother Champion Chase (Special Tiara), Manifesto Novices’ Chase (Flying Angel), Champion Stayers Hurdle (Unowhatimeanharry).
2018: Tolworth Hurdle (Summerville Boy), Flogas Novice Chase (Monalee), Supreme Novices’ Hurdle (Summerville Boy), Mersey Novices’ Hurdle (Black Op), Champion Novice Hurdle (Draconien).
2018: Tolworth Hurdle (Summerville Boy), Flogas Novice Chase (Monalee), Supreme Novices’ Hurdle (Summerville Boy), Mersey Novices’ Hurdle (Black Op), Champion Novice Hurdle (Draconien).