Ian Donoghue

The elder brother of Cheltenham Festival winning jockey Keith Donoghue, Ian made his point-to-point debut for Ronan O’Dwyer at Naul in February 2008, with his first success coming for Gordon Elliott aboard Lord Lansdown at Tallanstown two months later. A graduate of the pony racing circuit, Donoghue took an extended break from race-riding at the end of the 2009 season to work with hunts, firstly as first whip with the Louth’s, and then as the huntsman for the Co. Down Stagounds. During that time he won consecutive editions of the Huntsman’s Challenge at Punchestown. He returned at Dowth Hall in October 2019, over ten years after his last ride between the flags.