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Born in 1987, jump jockey Fearghal Joseph Davis enjoyed a successful 12-year career, during which he rode winners for JP McManus, Sir Robert Ogden and John Hales.
Born in 1987, jump jockey Fearghal Joseph Davis enjoyed a successful 12-year career, during which he rode winners for JP McManus, Sir Robert Ogden and John Hales.
As a conditional he struck up a good partnership with the Brian Ellison-trained hurdler Palomar, whom he rode 16 times between November 2007 and December 2010, winning five including a class 3 handicap hurdle at Kempton’s 2007 Christmas meeting and the class 2 Prelude Hurdle at Market Rasen in September 2010. In October 2010 he rode Ellison’s Neptune Equester to win a Listed chase at Wetherby.
As a conditional he struck up a good partnership with the Brian Ellison-trained hurdler Palomar, whom he rode 16 times between November 2007 and December 2010, winning five including a class 3 handicap hurdle at Kempton’s 2007 Christmas meeting and the class 2 Prelude Hurdle at Market Rasen in September 2010. In October 2010 he rode Ellison’s Neptune Equester to win a Listed chase at Wetherby.
He achieved his greatest success on another of Ellison’s horses, Marsh Warbler, in the Grade 1 Finale Juvenile Hurdle at Chepstow on January 8, 2011, winning from two future top-class chasers Houblon Des Obeaux and Smad Place.
He achieved his greatest success on another of Ellison’s horses, Marsh Warbler, in the Grade 1 Finale Juvenile Hurdle at Chepstow on January 8, 2011, winning from two future top-class chasers Houblon Des Obeaux and Smad Place.
He rode his last winner on Malin Bay for trainer Nicky Richards in a three-mile handicap hurdle at Perth on July 2, 2013. He had his final ride in a handicap chase at Newcastle on November 30, 2013, when falling at the first fence on Gorey Lane.
He rode his last winner on Malin Bay for trainer Nicky Richards in a three-mile handicap hurdle at Perth on July 2, 2013. He had his final ride in a handicap chase at Newcastle on November 30, 2013, when falling at the first fence on Gorey Lane.
He had been riding some of David O’Meara’s jumpers ever since O’Meara had started training. Thus, when the opportunity presented itself to join the burgeoning O’Meara operation, Fearghal did so and gave up race-riding, having ridden a total of 99 winners in Britain and Ireland across 12 seasons.
He had been riding some of David O’Meara’s jumpers ever since O’Meara had started training. Thus, when the opportunity presented itself to join the burgeoning O’Meara operation, Fearghal did so and gave up race-riding, having ridden a total of 99 winners in Britain and Ireland across 12 seasons.
Fearghal quickly became a key member of the team, driving horseboxes to race meetings and looking after O’Meara’s international runners.
Fearghal quickly became a key member of the team, driving horseboxes to race meetings and looking after O’Meara’s international runners.
However, his life came crashing down in December 2018 when was sentenced at York Crown Court to 34 months in jail and banned from driving for four years after causing a crash that resulted in an elderly couple suffering life-changing injuries.
However, his life came crashing down in December 2018 when was sentenced at York Crown Court to 34 months in jail and banned from driving for four years after causing a crash that resulted in an elderly couple suffering life-changing injuries.
On August 10, 2017, he sped around a blind bend on a single-track road in Gate Helmsley, North Yorkshire, while texting, resulting in a head-on crash with an oncoming Citroen Picasso. William Savory, 77, and his 76-year-old wife Rosemary both suffered serious injuries. They had to be cut free from the car before being rushed to hospital.
On August 10, 2017, he sped around a blind bend on a single-track road in Gate Helmsley, North Yorkshire, while texting, resulting in a head-on crash with an oncoming Citroen Picasso. William Savory, 77, and his 76-year-old wife Rosemary both suffered serious injuries. They had to be cut free from the car before being rushed to hospital.
Fearghal had been drinking, although there was no evidence he was over the limit, before he got behind the wheel and was looking down at his mobile when the crash happened. He then left the scene after phoning a friend, leaving his wrecked Ford Focus at the scene. A jogger described seeing him soaked in blood, and “being picked up in a navy-blue car and being driven away” from the crash site.
Fearghal had been drinking, although there was no evidence he was over the limit, before he got behind the wheel and was looking down at his mobile when the crash happened. He then left the scene after phoning a friend, leaving his wrecked Ford Focus at the scene. A jogger described seeing him soaked in blood, and “being picked up in a navy-blue car and being driven away” from the crash site.
When arrested at his home in Malton the day after the crash, he claimed he had no recollection of it, blaming a riding accident at the age of 18 for recurrent memory loss. However, forensic analysis of his mobile phone uncovered an incriminating series of texts. He ultimately admitted two counts of causing serious injury through dangerous driving. He was jailed for 3 years.
When arrested at his home in Malton the day after the crash, he claimed he had no recollection of it, blaming a riding accident at the age of 18 for recurrent memory loss. However, forensic analysis of his mobile phone uncovered an incriminating series of texts. He ultimately admitted two counts of causing serious injury through dangerous driving. He was jailed for 3 years.
Here's how Fearghal summed up his first ride on Simply Ned:
Here's how Fearghal summed up his first ride on Simply Ned:
We thought a lot of him from day one and I got him beat in a bumper first time. It was one of the worst rides I've ever given a horse. I could barely speak to the owners, I was that annoyed with myself. I hit the front going through the wings of the last and he was green and got chinned on the line. He then won his first three hurdles and I remember he was class in his first handicap at Musselburgh, he travelled the whole way into the straight - he was different gear. He looked nice as soon as he went hurdling, although he was only rated 117 when he won his first handicap - we thought we had a lovely handicapper we would have a lot of fun with around the north.
We thought a lot of him from day one and I got him beat in a bumper first time. It was one of the worst rides I've ever given a horse. I could barely speak to the owners, I was that annoyed with myself. I hit the front going through the wings of the last and he was green and got chinned on the line. He then won his first three hurdles and I remember he was class in his first handicap at Musselburgh, he travelled the whole way into the straight - he was different gear. He looked nice as soon as he went hurdling, although he was only rated 117 when he won his first handicap - we thought we had a lovely handicapper we would have a lot of fun with around the north.
In July 2014, Fearghal took part in the third Campbell Gillies Memorial charity football match, played at Evesham United's ground. Lining up alongside Ryan Mania, Harry Chaloner and others, Fearghal claimed two assists in his team's win.
In July 2014, Fearghal took part in the third Campbell Gillies Memorial charity football match, played at Evesham United's ground. Lining up alongside Ryan Mania, Harry Chaloner and others, Fearghal claimed two assists in his team's win.
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