'Dream come true' for Jody McGarvey after Grade 1 double at Fairyhouse

A few years have passed since Jody McGarvey was enjoying the ride of his life on a certain headbanger by the name of Great Field.

They teamed up to win five races together, including a Grade 1 at the 2017 Punchestown festival, and nothing was ever boring when they rolled into town.

The excitement of being associated with that headline horse died down a long time ago but, in his own words, McGarvey’s fallow period “makes you appreciate the good times that bit more”.

Sunday at Fairyhouse was not just a good day, it was McGarvey’s best day in the saddle.

A couple of hours after he provided Shark Hanlon with his breakthrough Grade 1 winner aboard Skyace, McGarvey completed the feature race double when Janidil led home a Willie Mullins 1-2-3 in the Grade 1 Underwriting Exchange Gold Cup Novice Chase.

Janidil jumps the last to win the Grade 1 Underwriting Exchange Gold Cup Novice ChaseCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

The road is long and winding in this game and it has many turns. At the beginning of this season, Skyace would have appeared as likely to win a Grade 1 as Ireland are to win the World Cup.

It was in JP McManus’s green and gold silks that McGarvey enjoyed his greatest days aboard Great Field but he has been playing a supporting role for the outfit ever since.

However, the stars aligned for McGarvey here, proving good things happen to good guys and the hard yards do pay off.

Despite wearing a look of ‘how the hell did that happen,’ the 30-year-old explained how he had been patiently waiting for such an opportunity to shine on the big stage.

McGarvey said: “It’s unbelievable. Coming to this meeting with the good rides I had was very exciting. For it all to click into place like it has, it’s just a dream come true.

"I wanted to be a jockey since I was a little boy and I’ve had a good old time up until now without really hitting the heights. To win two races this weekend at the highest level, it really is a dream come true."

He added: “I’d no trouble sleeping last night and I ate my breakfast this morning so I wasn’t too worked up or anything. I have been riding a long time now. I’m 30 years old. You appreciate it that bit more when you’re not a regular in the winner’s enclosure.

"For someone like me who doesn’t have a top job, when I get the chances, you really appreciate it. There’s lads in the weighing room who’d give their right arm to be standing where I am today. It’s a day I won’t forget.”

Hanlon calls it right

Shark Hanlon won’t forget Sunday in a hurry either. One of the biggest characters in the game, the trainer didn’t hold back when he told the world that Skyace couldn’t be beaten in the Irish Stallions Farms EBF Mares Novice Hurdle Championship Final.

Such bold predictions have scarcely been made ahead of a Grade 1 before but, credit the Shark, he called it to a nicety as Skyace hosed up just as he knew she would.

Shark Hanlon (left) with McGarvey and his Grade 1 winner SkyaceCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

“She’s great, she’s tough as nails. She came home from Cheltenham in better form than when she went over," Hanlon said afterwards.

"I was afraid of the ones who hadn’t run at Cheltenham more than the ones who did. We just felt that she was in great form. It’s great to have one like her.”

Skyace, the bargain buy who Hanlon picked up for just £600 at the sales last year, had to overcome trouble in running under McGarvey.

Asked to describe his emotions during the race, Hanlon said: “When she got into a bit of trouble I said a few prayers.

"Everyone wants to train a Grade 1 winner and to go and do it is great. It’s also great for racing. Anyone out there now can say 'right, she’s a small priced filly, let’s put together a syndicate and go and have some fun.'”

Speaking to the Racing Post on Saturday, Hanlon said: “I gave Skyace a little blow there this morning and she’s never been in better form. It frightened the life out of me. I rang the lads who own her in Dubai and I told them she’s a certainty and to have what they like on her.

"Now, that wouldn’t usually be my way, especially in a Grade 1, but I couldn’t be more confident in this mare. She will love the ground and the same can’t be said about the rest of them. She’s also a fresher mare than most of these because she had a mid-season break. I think she will give me my first Grade 1 winner and if she does it would be absolutely mighty.”

Asked if he really believed nothing could lay a glove on his stable star after she proved him right, Hanlon responded: “I did. I thought she couldn’t get beaten. She came home from Cheltenham real well and I thought nothing would beat her. I’m delighted.”

Results, replays and analysis

Read more of Sunday's race reports:

Sean Woods back from Hong Kong with a bang as first runner is a winner

Change of tack and headgear spurs Alborkan to first win over hurdles

Delight for Keri Brion as US trainer records first winner in Ireland

One-eyed Giovanni Change delivers on novice hurdle promise for Walford

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