Leading point-to-point rider Richie Deegan has set his sights on a career under rules and will partner his first ride as a professional at Limerick on Friday.
Deegan has established himself as one of the leading riders on the point-to-point circuit, in part thanks to a very successful partnership with handler Aidan Fitzgerald which has stretched back over a decade.
The Carlow-based handler provided him with his first winner at Oldcastle aboard Noble Witness in 2011 and Deegan made a notable breakthrough during the 2016/17 campaign with 13 winners, more than doubling his previous best season tally. A feat he matched the following the season.
In all, the Borris native has ridden 57 winners between the flags and has had just under 900 rides in Irish point-to-points.
Deegan makes the move to the track following an injury interrupted season between the flags, as he missed much of the autumn campaign following a leg injury that he sustained in a fall from Imitation Game at Dromahane in October.
Big race success has already come his way on the track as a qualified rider, achieving a victory at the highest level in 2019, when he won the Grade 1 Champion Bumper at the Punchestown Festival aboard the Willie Mullins-trained Tornado Flyer.
Since then, he has maintained his relationship with the Champion Trainer and following his comeback from injury last month, Deegan was given the leg up by Mullins on Dragon D’Estruval in the Naas Hunter Chase.
The five-pound claimer now kicks off his new career on the track with four rides on Friday afternoon at the Munster venue, as he teams up with the Cormac Farrell-trained Shanavoun Lady in the Adare Manor Opportunity Maiden Hurdle at 2.35.
He also rides Sam Curling's Galudon in the Limerick on Twitter Maiden Hurdle at 3.05, Whiskeywealth for Eoghan O’Grady in the Limerick on Twitter Maiden Hurdle at 3.35 and Eoin McCarthy’s Mattie Mountain for Eoin McCarthy in the Follow Limerick on Instagram Handicap Hurdle at 4.10.
Deegan is one of three point-to-point regulars joining the conditional jockey ranks at Limerick on Friday, as he is joined by Jordan Gainford and Shane Fenelon.
He also rides Sam Curling's Galudon in the Limerick on Twitter Maiden Hurdle at 3.05, Whiskeywealth for Eoghan O’Grady in the Limerick on Twitter Maiden Hurdle at 3.35 and Eoin McCarthy’s Mattie Mountain for Eoin McCarthy in the Follow Limerick on Instagram Handicap Hurdle at 4.10.
Deegan is one of three point-to-point regulars joining the conditional jockey ranks at Limerick on Friday, as he is joined by Jordan Gainford and Shane Fenelon.
