Michael Hourigan
Jump jockey Michael Hourigan is the son of the famous Irish trainer of the same name. He began his riding career in Britain as an amateur with Philip Hobbs and rode one of his first winners for him on Border Anchor in a novices’ handicap chase at Worcester on December 2, 1991.
Jump jockey Michael Hourigan is the son of the famous Irish trainer of the same name. He began his riding career in Britain as an amateur with Philip Hobbs and rode one of his first winners for him on Border Anchor in a novices’ handicap chase at Worcester on December 2, 1991.
A steady stream of winners flowed throughout the season. Back at Worcester, on May 6, 1992, he registered a double for Martin Pipe on novice chaser Errant Knight and handicap hurdler Ring Of Fortune. That same month he won twice on Pipe’s handicap chaser Huntworth. He finished the season as champion amateur rider.
A steady stream of winners flowed throughout the season. Back at Worcester, on May 6, 1992, he registered a double for Martin Pipe on novice chaser Errant Knight and handicap hurdler Ring Of Fortune. That same month he won twice on Pipe’s handicap chaser Huntworth. He finished the season as champion amateur rider.
Michael turned conditional the following season and made an immediate impression, racking up a total of 21 wins. He improved on that score in the 1993/94 campaign, riding 31 winners, five of which were gained on Phillip Hobbs’ handicap chaser Touching Star in the first half of the season, including the City of Coventry Trophy at Stratford on September 4. He registered his biggest success on the Hobbs-trained Dreams End (below) in Haydock’s Swinton Hurdle on May 2, 1994.
Michael turned conditional the following season and made an immediate impression, racking up a total of 21 wins. He improved on that score in the 1993/94 campaign, riding 31 winners, five of which were gained on Phillip Hobbs’ handicap chaser Touching Star in the first half of the season, including the City of Coventry Trophy at Stratford on September 4. He registered his biggest success on the Hobbs-trained Dreams End (below) in Haydock’s Swinton Hurdle on May 2, 1994.
Sadly, Michael’s winning score dropped to just eight for the 1994/95 season and although he continued to ride for several more years, he was unable to replicate the level of success he’d enjoyed as a conditional.
Sadly, Michael’s winning score dropped to just eight for the 1994/95 season and although he continued to ride for several more years, he was unable to replicate the level of success he’d enjoyed as a conditional.