John Durkan Memorial Chase
Encyclopedia
The John Durkan Memorial Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt race in Ireland. It is run over a distance of 2 miles and 4 furlongs at Punchestown in December.
The race was first run in 1968 and it was run over a distance of 2 miles until 1973. It has been run over today's distance since then apart from in 1993 and 1994, where if was run over 2 miles and 5 furlongs.
The 2010 running took place at Fairyhouse
The race was first run in 1968 and it was run over a distance of 2 miles until 1973. It has been run over today's distance since then apart from in 1993 and 1994, where if was run over 2 miles and 5 furlongs.
Records
- Most successful horse - Straight Fort (1971, 1972), Fort Fox (1976, 1977), Jack Of Trumps (1978, 1979), Bobsline (1984, 1986), Merry Gale (1994, 1995), Native UpmanshipNative UpmanshipNative Upmanship was an ultra consistent National Hunt racehorse. He was trained in Ireland by Arthur Moore and owned by John Magnier.-Early career:...
(2000, 2002) 2 wins each - Most successful jockey - Niall Madden Sr. (1978/, 1979, 1980) 3 wins
- Most successful trainer - Jim Dreaper (1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1990, 1994, 1995) 7 wins
Winners
- Amateur jockeys indicated by "Mr".
Year Winner Jockey Trainer 1968 Bold Fencer Joe Crowley A S O'Brien 1969 Kinloch Brae Timmy Hyde Willie O'Grady 1970 East Bound Sean Barker Tom Dreaper Tom DreaperThomas William Dreaper was a successful Irish steeplechase racehorse trainer. He is best known for being the trainer of Arkle and Flyingbolt....1971 Straight Fort Eddie Wright Jim Dreaper 1972 Straight Fort Eddie Wright Jim Dreaper 1973 Lean Forward P McLoughlin Jim Dreaper 1974 Lough Inagh Sean Barker Jim Dreaper 1975 Captain Christy Captain ChristyCaptain Christy was an Irish-bred and Irish-trained racehorse, who won the Cheltenham Gold Cup as a novice.In spite of an alarming tendency to make mistakes, Captain Christy was one of the very best Irish chasers of his era and his 30 lengths demolition of Bula in the 1975 King George VI Chase at...Bobby Coonan Pat Taaffe Pat TaaffePat Taaffe died in 1992 in Dublin Hospital, aged just 62. His health had been poor for some time.Taaffe is a National Hunt jockey who famously rode Arkle to win three Cheltenham Gold Cups between 1964 and 1966...1976 Fort Fox Frank Berry J R Cox 1977 Fort Fox Thomas McGivern J R Cox 1978 Jack Of Trumps Mr. Niall Madden Sr. Edward O'Grady 1979 Jack Of Trumps Mr. Niall Madden Sr. Edward O'Grady 1980 Chinrullah Mick O'Toole Niall Madden Sr. 1981 Tacroy Tommy Carmody Michael O'Brien 1982 Choreli P Walsh Michael O'Brien 1983 Ballinacurra Lad P Leech John Fowler 1984 Bobsline Frank Berry Francis Flood 1985 Dawn Run Dawn RunDawn Run was a Thoroughbred racehorse who was the most successful racemare in the history of National Hunt racing. She won the Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham racing festival in 1984 and the Cheltenham Gold Cup over fences at the festival in 1986. Dawn Run was the only racehorse to have...Anthony Mullins Paddy Mullins Paddy MullinsPaddy Mullins was an Irish racehorse trainer in a career which spanned fifty two years.His first winner was Flash Parade, which won the 1953 La Touche at Punchestown...1986 Bobsline Frank Berry Francis Flood 1987 Excursion Mr. John Queally G Stewart 1988 Hungary Hur Tommy Carmody John Mulhern 1989 Maid Of Money Anthony Powell John Fowler 1990 Carvills' Hill Kevin Morgan Jim Dreaper 1991 Garamycin Brendan Sheridan Willie Deacon 1992 Gold Options Mark Dwyer Mark DwyerMark Dwyer is a former Australian rules footballer who played with Fitzroy and St Kilda in the Victorian Football League during the 1980s....P McCreery 1993 Cahervillahow Norman Williamson Norman WilliamsonNorman Williamson is a professional jockey in the Irish National Hunt.- References :...Mouse Morris Mouse MorrisMichael 'Mouse' Morris is an Irish racehorse trainer and former jockey.As a jockey he rode Skymas to win the Queen Mother Champion Chase in 1976 and 1977 and Billycan to win the 1977 Irish Grand National, while his most notable successes as a trainer have come with Buck House in the 1983 Supreme...1994 Merry Gale Kevin O'Brien Jim Dreaper 1995 Merry Gale Richard Dunwoody Richard DunwoodyThomas Richard Dunwoody MBE is a retired British jockey in National Hunt racing. He was a three-time Champion Jockey, riding 1699 British winners in his career. His father was a leading Point to Point rider...Jim Dreaper 1996 Royal Mountbrowne Charlie Swan Aidan O'Brien Aidan O'BrienAidan Patrick O'Brien is an Irish horse racing trainer. Since 1996, he has been the private trainer at Ballydoyle Stables near Cashel in County Tipperary for John Magnier and his Coolmore Stud associates....1997 Dorans Pride Dorans PrideDorans Pride is an Irish thoroughbred racehorse.-Racing Career: Dorans Pride joined Michael Hourigan's yard in 1992 and was sold by the trainer to Tom Doran in February 1993, who gave the then nicknamed Padjo, his racing name...Richard Dunwoody Richard DunwoodyThomas Richard Dunwoody MBE is a retired British jockey in National Hunt racing. He was a three-time Champion Jockey, riding 1699 British winners in his career. His father was a leading Point to Point rider...Michael Hourigan 1998 Imperial Call Paul Carberry Paul CarberryPaul Carberry is an Irish National Hunt jockey.- Background :He was born on 9 February 1974. He hails from a racing family. He is the son of jockey Tommy Carberry, who was a famous National Hunt jockey in the 1960s and 1970s. His uncle is Arthur Moore, one of Ireland's leading National Hunt trainers...Raymond Hurley 1999 Buck Rogers Ken Whelan Victor Bowen 2000 Native Upmanship Native UpmanshipNative Upmanship was an ultra consistent National Hunt racehorse. He was trained in Ireland by Arthur Moore and owned by John Magnier.-Early career:...Conor O'Dwyer Arthur Moore 2001 Florida Pearl Florida PearlFlorida Pearl is an Irish-bred race horse, who raced in the late 1990s and early 2000s. He was owned by Mrs Violet O'Leary and trained by Willie Mullins...Paul Carberry Paul CarberryPaul Carberry is an Irish National Hunt jockey.- Background :He was born on 9 February 1974. He hails from a racing family. He is the son of jockey Tommy Carberry, who was a famous National Hunt jockey in the 1960s and 1970s. His uncle is Arthur Moore, one of Ireland's leading National Hunt trainers...Willie Mullins Willie MullinsWillie Mullins is an Irish racehorse trainer and former jockey. He is based at Closutton, Bagenalstown, Co Carlow, Ireland...2002 Native Upmanship Native UpmanshipNative Upmanship was an ultra consistent National Hunt racehorse. He was trained in Ireland by Arthur Moore and owned by John Magnier.-Early career:...Conor O'Dwyer Arthur Moore 2003 Beef or Salmon Beef or SalmonBeef or Salmon was a multiple Grade 1 winning National Hunt racehorse. He was trained in Ireland by Michael Hourigan and owned by B J Craig. He was most famous for never winning a race outside of Ireland and for defeating three Cheltenham Gold Cup winners in Best Mate, Kicking King and War of...Timmy Murphy Timmy MurphyTimothy James Murphy , commonly known as Timmy Murphy, is a National Hunt jockey who overcame difficult personal problems to win the 2008 John Smith's Grand National at Aintree Racecourse on the horse Comply or Die. He recorded his 1,000th winner at Taunton on 21 January 2010.- References :...Michael Hourigan 2004 Kicking King Kicking KingKicking King is a National Hunt racehorse trained in Ardclough, Co. Kildare, Ireland, by Tom Taaffe. He is best known for his victory in the 2005 Cheltenham Gold Cup, the major Chase run at the Cheltenham Festival...Barry Geraghty Barry GeraghtyBarry Geraghty is an Irish jockey.Geraghty rode his first winner in January 1997, three years later he became the Irish Champion jump jockey for the first time. He rode his first Cheltenham winner on the Jessica Harrington trained Moscow Flyer in the 2002 Arkle Chase.He won the Grand National in...Tom Taaffe Tom TaaffeTom Taaffe is an Irish horse trainer based at Portree Stables, Boston, Straffan, in County Kildare.He began training in 94/95 jumps season, having had a successful career as a professional jump jockey for the Arthur Moore stable....2005 Hi Cloy Andrew McNamara Michael Hourigan 2006 In Compliance Barry Geraghty Barry GeraghtyBarry Geraghty is an Irish jockey.Geraghty rode his first winner in January 1997, three years later he became the Irish Champion jump jockey for the first time. He rode his first Cheltenham winner on the Jessica Harrington trained Moscow Flyer in the 2002 Arkle Chase.He won the Grand National in...Michael O'Brien 2007 The Listener Daryl Jacob Robert Alner Robert AlnerRobert Alner is a British racehorse trainer specializing in National Hunt racing. He is based at stables at Droop, near Sturminster Newton in Dorset, England. He trained the winner of the Cheltenham Gold Cup with Cool Dawn in 1998....2008 Noland Sam Thomas Paul Nicholls Paul Nicholls (horse racing)Paul Nicholls is a British National Hunt horse trainer with stables at Ditcheat, Somerset. A relatively successful jump jockey, Nicholls has become the leading National Hunt trainer of his generation, finishing the 2007-2008 season with 155 winners and a record £4 million in prize money...2009 Joncol Alain Cawley Paul Nolan 2010 Tranquil Sea Andrew McNamara Edward O'Grady
The 2010 running took place at Fairyhouse
Fairyhouse Racecourse
Fairyhouse Racecourse is one of Ireland's premier horse racing venues. Situated in the parish of Ratoath in County Meath, on the R155 regional road, 3 km off the N3. It is the home of the Irish Grand National. The first race meet was held in 1848...