After an incredible innings jockey Robbie Power called time on his jump racing career after announcing his retirement earlier this year.
Power, who’s winners include the Irish Grand National and the Cheltenham Gold Cup burst onto the scene when he rode the then 33-1 outsider Silver Birch to victory in the 2007 Grand National at Aintree in what was only his second Grand National ride.
“I knew around the middle of March that my body wasn’t able for another season,” said Power.
“Before I came back after breaking my hip in Tramore… I got the hip injected and it did give me huge relief for a couple of weeks, but then with the arthritis I have in my hip the injection wore off. From midway through March I was taking painkillers everyday and getting out of bed in the morning was becoming a struggle.”
🗣️'I was so lucky that I rode in a generation with them and delighted to say I shared a weigh room with them.'
🗣️'He was a joy to watch riding over fences.'
Robbie Power on Friday Night Racing. | 🏇@HRIRacing | #EveryRacingMoment
FULL CHAT: https://t.co/tAuYhT4zRT pic.twitter.com/VTYsACJ7kY— Off The Ball (@offtheball) May 13, 2022
Power, competed with the best of a generation and was recognised as one of the most natural horsemen in the business.
“I’m so lucky to have ridden in an era, in a generation with the best jockeys ever to grace the racecourse,” said Power.
“The likes of Paul (Carberry), without any shadow of a doubt the most naturally talented jockey I ever rode against. The likes of Ruby (Walsh), Barry (Geraghty), (Tony) McCoy, Conor O’Dwyer, Dickie Johnson, the list just goes on and on.
“I’m just so lucky I rode in a generation with them and delighted that I shared a weigh room with them.”
🗣️'I knew my body wasn't able for another season.'
Former jockey Robbie Power joined @gergilroy & Johnny Ward on Friday Night Racing to discuss his career, and what is next on the horizon. | 🏇@HRIRacing | #EveryRacingMoment
FULL CHAT: https://t.co/tAuYhT4zRT pic.twitter.com/0ePrRmDaEw— Off The Ball (@offtheball) May 13, 2022
Any winners that Power obtained were well earned in such a talented generation. He enjoyed a long association with Jessica Harrington, with whom he combined to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup and Punchestown Gold Cup aboard Sizing John in 2017.
“It was probably the most exciting race I ever rode in,” said Power remarking on the 2017 Punchestown Gold Cup.
“Coneygree jumped off and went on an unbelievable gallop, there was no let-up whatsoever. I don’t think Sizing John was at his best on that day.
“I thought I made a mistake at the second last and that that was it, I was going to be beaten and then Djakadam made a mistake at the last which gave me another look in the door. Thankfully for Sizing John he put his head down and battled all the way to the line.
“It was an unbelievable performance to come back after Cheltenham and put up a performance like that in Punchestown.”
After some well deserved time off, Power is planning for the next phase of his career.
“I’ve had a few interesting phone calls about potential job offers for the future, but I’ve told everybody that I’m taking a couple months off. I’m going to sit back and just weigh up my options going forward,” said Power.
“I’m not going to train horses, I can guarantee you that. I would like to do what my father did for years, which was training young horses how to jump. I love working with horses regarding their jumping.”
It won’t be long before Power is back at a racetrack once more.
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