Larry McGrath
National Hunt jockey Larry McGrath was born in Carrick-on-Suir in Co. Tipperary on April 7, 1973. He rode initially as an amateur during the late 1990s for Norman Mason, who trained his own horses at Brancepeth Manor Farm, near Crook, Co. Durham. Richard Guest was Mason’s stable jockey at the time and famously won the 2001 Grand National for him on Red Marauder.
National Hunt jockey Larry McGrath was born in Carrick-on-Suir in Co. Tipperary on April 7, 1973. He rode initially as an amateur during the late 1990s for Norman Mason, who trained his own horses at Brancepeth Manor Farm, near Crook, Co. Durham. Richard Guest was Mason’s stable jockey at the time and famously won the 2001 Grand National for him on Red Marauder.
Guest took over the training licence from Mason at the start of 2003 and Larry, who had by that time turned professional, rode Guest’s first winner as a trainer when Mr Bossman obliged at 14-1 in the Portlane Handicap Chase on February 22, 2003. Unfortunately, the horse was subsequently disqualified after traces of a banned substance were found in his urine sample. However, consolation was less than a month away, with Larry bringing home Mr Bossman to win the Tim Barclay Memorial Handicap Chase at Fakenham on March 14.
Guest took over the training licence from Mason at the start of 2003 and Larry, who had by that time turned professional, rode Guest’s first winner as a trainer when Mr Bossman obliged at 14-1 in the Portlane Handicap Chase on February 22, 2003. Unfortunately, the horse was subsequently disqualified after traces of a banned substance were found in his urine sample. However, consolation was less than a month away, with Larry bringing home Mr Bossman to win the Tim Barclay Memorial Handicap Chase at Fakenham on March 14.
Larry gained his biggest success on the Richard Guest-trained Our Armageddon in the Cathcart Chase at the 2004 Cheltenham Festival. That same horse gave him another big payday when winning the Singer and Freidlander Chase at Uttoxeter (left) in February 2006.
Larry gained his biggest success on the Richard Guest-trained Our Armageddon in the Cathcart Chase at the 2004 Cheltenham Festival. That same horse gave him another big payday when winning the Singer and Freidlander Chase at Uttoxeter (left) in February 2006.
He rode 16 winners in the 2005/06 season. However, in June of that year he received a ban after a sample of urine taken from him at Carlisle on March 9 tested positive for cocaine, and another urine sample taken at Sedgefield on April 17 was found to contain a diuretic.
He rode 16 winners in the 2005/06 season. However, in June of that year he received a ban after a sample of urine taken from him at Carlisle on March 9 tested positive for cocaine, and another urine sample taken at Sedgefield on April 17 was found to contain a diuretic.
His licence was withdrawn by the Horseracing Regulatory Authority’s discipline committee until 28 October. It was effectively a six-month ban as he had already been ordered out of the saddle for the previous six weeks.
His licence was withdrawn by the Horseracing Regulatory Authority’s discipline committee until 28 October. It was effectively a six-month ban as he had already been ordered out of the saddle for the previous six weeks.
He returned to action and rode a winner on his sixth ride back, the Richard Guest-trained Assumetheposition in a Sedgefield selling hurdle on November 7, 2006. However, he struggled to resurrect his career and had only four winners that season, all of them trained by Guest.
He returned to action and rode a winner on his sixth ride back, the Richard Guest-trained Assumetheposition in a Sedgefield selling hurdle on November 7, 2006. However, he struggled to resurrect his career and had only four winners that season, all of them trained by Guest.
He rode just one winner from 68 rides in the 2007/08 season, that being on Mr Ex, trained by Geoff Harker, in a Towcester novices’ selling hurdle on May 22, 2007. Mr Ex was also his final ride when finishing third of ten at Catterick on New Year’s Day 2008.
He rode just one winner from 68 rides in the 2007/08 season, that being on Mr Ex, trained by Geoff Harker, in a Towcester novices’ selling hurdle on May 22, 2007. Mr Ex was also his final ride when finishing third of ten at Catterick on New Year’s Day 2008.
He is now a work rider and driver for successful trainer David O’Meara.
He is now a work rider and driver for successful trainer David O’Meara.
In January 2001 his younger brother, Christy McGrath, aged 23, a conditional jockey with Richard Guest, was jailed for life for the murder of 37-year-old Gary Walton whilst high on a combination of Ecstasy and alcohol.
In January 2001 his younger brother, Christy McGrath, aged 23, a conditional jockey with Richard Guest, was jailed for life for the murder of 37-year-old Gary Walton whilst high on a combination of Ecstasy and alcohol.