Colm O'Donoghue deserved great fanfare - not these shameful slurs

When a jockey has ridden nearly 500 winners across the globe over the space of 20-odd years, farmed 14 Group or Grade 1s, enjoyed famous triumphs in Classics at the Curragh and Epsom, at Royal Ascot, Woodbine, Keeneland and Arlington Park, he would be entitled to expect all the bells and whistles when his time came to bow out.

This week, Colm O’Donoghue in effectconfirmed his retirement from the saddle at 40 years of age, without any of the fanfare his exploits deserved.

When you have spent two years fighting against malicious and unfounded allegations of assault, being granted a decent send-off in the press is not really high on your list of priorities.