O'Neill and Bowe in the clear but plenty of titles still to be decided on final weekend of action
For some, this final weekend of the season affords them an opportunity to enjoy a victory lap of honour, but for others the stakes are high with just two days of racing left.
Barry O’Neill continues to set a lofty bar and, with 64 winners to his name this season, he has almost double the amount of wins of his nearest rival Derek O’Connor. In securing his seventh successive championship he moves one step closer to emulating O’Connor’s ten-in-a-row record and 11 in total. The Wexford rider will also lift two regional titles this year, with the eastern and northern awards again going his way.
His chief supporter Colin Bowe continues to dominate the handler ranks. For the ninth year in a row, he is the all-conquering champion handler, a title he has now won 11 times. Like O’Neill, a mark of his dominance in the division is evident in his season’s tally of 43 winners, almost double that of his closest rival. His impact has not only allowed O’Neill to add to his title hauls, but could also decide the outcome of the under-21 award.
Read the full story
Read award-winning journalism from the best writers in racing, with exclusive news, interviews, columns, investigations, stable tours and subscriber-only emails.
Subscribe to unlock
- Racing Post digital newspaper (worth over £100 per month)
- Award-winning journalism from the best writers in racing
- Expert tips from the likes of Tom Segal and Paul Kealy
- Replays and results analysis from all UK and Irish racecourses
- Form study tools including the Pro Card and Horse Tracker
- Extensive archive of statistics covering horses, trainers, jockeys, owners, pedigree and sales data
Already a subscriber?Log in
- The remarkable eight-month rise of teenager Shane Cotter from debutant rider to under-21 champion
- Honours even - decision of Barry O'Neill and Rob James to share riders' title a fitting end to season
- Store trade might not be as tough as many think but private sales of top pointers could undermine public auctions
- Necarne used to be a vibrant, well-supported fixture - it needs help to recover its old charm
- Highlight of the domestic hunter chase season is defined by a cracking championship contest at Punchestown
- The remarkable eight-month rise of teenager Shane Cotter from debutant rider to under-21 champion
- Honours even - decision of Barry O'Neill and Rob James to share riders' title a fitting end to season
- Store trade might not be as tough as many think but private sales of top pointers could undermine public auctions
- Necarne used to be a vibrant, well-supported fixture - it needs help to recover its old charm
- Highlight of the domestic hunter chase season is defined by a cracking championship contest at Punchestown