Image © Healy Racing
Chris O’Donovan made a winning return to the saddle at Moig South on Sunday when partnering the Tom Keating-owned and trained Beggar to victory in the five-year-old and upwards maiden.
It was the Mallow rider’s first race-ride since April 2024, and he marked the occasion in the best possible fashion by steering the five-year-old to an impressive success.
It was the Mallow rider’s first race-ride since April 2024, and he marked the occasion in the best possible fashion by steering the five-year-old to an impressive success.
The 29-year-old has long been one of the most consistent riders on the point-to-point circuit. With 103 point-to-point winners and nine track victories already on his CV, he is no stranger to success, but his riding career was temporarily halted by weight struggles.
“I’ve been riding out the whole time, I never left racing,” he explained. “My weight just got out of hand for a while and I needed to get it back under control. I had to work very hard to do it.”
Despite stepping away from race-riding, O’Donovan remained deeply involved in the sport, continuing to ride out and train a small team at home.
“We've a couple of horses at home. I was busy with them even when I wasn’t riding. I didn’t renew the licence last season because of the weight, but I was going to the races every Sunday and half jealous watching the lads riding. So I decided to get my act together, get the weight down and go back at it.”
The work required to get back to race-riding weight and fitness was significant.
“I’m riding out 14 or 15 lots a day between Tom’s and our own. I’ve eight or nine at home, so there’s plenty to do. Kevin O’Brien helps me and my mum helps too. Then I go walking every evening. It took a lot of hard work, but it was worth it.”
Beggar provided the perfect return mount. The son of Workforce had shown promise previously and appreciated the softer underfoot conditions on Sunday.
“He ran a very good race at Ballynoe earlier last season, and he needed his first run back. Then he got his ground at Moig South. He did it very well. He jumped and travelled and I’d say he’ll be heading for Goresbridge now. He’ll win plenty. He’s a good staying horse.”
While Keating has been a strong long-time supporter, O’Donovan is keen to broaden his book of rides again.
“I’m just in Tom’s at the moment, he’s always been very good to me and we work very well together. But I’ll ride anything that’s available. I’m not coming back just to ride my own horses. I want to get going again and be as busy as I can.”
Sunday’s victory adds to an already distinguished CV. O’Donovan partnered his first point-to-point winner at Dromahane in April 2014 aboard Optimus Prime, trained by his sister Kate.
His first track win followed in March 2016 at Cork with Theatre Princess, and he was crowned champion novice rider that same season. In 2022/23 he enjoyed a career-best 25 winners, earning a share of the Southern title with John Barry. He also reached the 100-winner milestone when partnering the Tom Keating-trained Chancernotadancer to success at Quakerstown in November 2023.
His first track win followed in March 2016 at Cork with Theatre Princess, and he was crowned champion novice rider that same season. In 2022/23 he enjoyed a career-best 25 winners, earning a share of the Southern title with John Barry. He also reached the 100-winner milestone when partnering the Tom Keating-trained Chancernotadancer to success at Quakerstown in November 2023.
Now, with weight issues behind him and momentum returning, O’Donovan is eager for a fresh chapter.
“The plan is to be out riding every weekend and get going as best I can. I enjoy it too much not to be involved.”
