Shane Donohoe

Shane Donohoe

Article by Alan Trout

Shane Steven Donohoe made a promising start to his career over jumps with eight wins in his first full season but then added just three more over the next two years.

He was a conditional jockey based with Mrs Joan Wonnacott at Tavistock, but it was for another West Country trainer, Chris Popham, that he had those first eight victories, starting with King Retain in the St John Ambulance Brigade Selling Handicap Hurdle at Plumpton on November 6, 1990, the seven-year-old proving just too good for Master Vince, winning by a neck. They followed up at Taunton 24 days later. However, King Retain’s form slumped after that and they were not placed in three subsequent starts. 

Another feature of Shane’s first season was the four wins in 36 days by the handicap hurdler Sporting Idol on the all-weather track at Lingfield. 

Mrs Wonnacott provided Shane with both of his winners in the 1991/92 season, then Paul Nicholls supplied his last one when Welknown Character recorded a comfortable success in the Oak Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Chase at Wincanton on October 8, 1992, scoring by 20 lengths. Adrain Maguire then took over in the saddle, while Shane had few other chances. 

He returned to Ireland and eventually began training, recording his biggest success in the 2005 Topham Trophy Chase at Aintree with Cregg House, ridden by Davy Russell.  

Shane Donohoe’s winners were, in chronological order:

1. King Retain, Plumpton, November 5, 1990

2. King Retain, Taunton, November 29, 1990

3. Skylark Wonder, Windsor, January 1, 1991

4. Sporting Idol, Lingfield Park, January 31, 1991

5. Sporting Idol, Lingfield Park, February 21, 1991

6. Sporting Idol, Lingfield Park, February 28, 1991

7. Sporting Idol, Lingfield Park, March 7, 1991

8. Frans Girl, Lingfield Park, March 15, 1991

9. Bannister, Newton Abbot, August 28, 1991

10. Lane Lad, Lingfield Park, January 30, 1992

11. Welknown Character, Wincanton, October 8, 1992