John Meagher Memorial Chase
The John Meagher Memorial Chase is a Listed National Hunt steeplechase in Ireland which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Thurles over a distance of about 2 miles and 6 furlongs (4,426 metres), and it is scheduled to take place each year in November.
| 2020 | ||
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| Presenting Percy | Kemboy | Monalee |
| Previous years | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | ||
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| Footpad | Mala Beach | Jetz |
| 2018 | ||
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| Alpha Des Obeaux | Valseur Lido | Eight Till Late |
| 2017 | ||
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| Bachasson | Val De Ferbet | Apache Stronghold |
| 2016 | ||
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| Champagne Fever | Lord Windermere | Roi Des Francs |
| 2015 | ||
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| Sir Des Champs | Rubi Light | Lyreen Legend |
| 2014 | ||
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| Home Farm | Foildubh | Maggio |
| 2013 | ||
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| Noble Prince | Realt Dubh | Fosters Cross |
| 2012 | ||
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| Roi Du Mee | Quarryvale | Ballinahow Lady |
| 2011 | ||
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| Joncol | Cooldine | Roberto Goldback |
| 2010-2001 | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | ||
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| Glencove Marina | Notre Pere | Rare Bob |
| 2009 | ||
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| In Compliance | Chelsea Harbour | Bohemian Lass |
| 2008 | ||
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| War Of Attrition | Carrigeen Kalmia | Rathgar Beau |
| 2007 | ||
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| Forget The Past | Light On The Broom | Our Ben |
| 2006 | ||
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| Public Reaction | Mossy Green | Slim Pickings |
| 2005 | ||
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| Mossy Green | Tiffiny Gale | Kerryhead Windfarm |
| 2004 | ||
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| Oh Be The Hokey | The Young Bishop | Il En Reve |
| 2003 | ||
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| Ride The Storm | Andiamo | Autumn Mist |
| 2002 | ||
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| Spice Patrol | African Waters | Quintus |
| 2001 | ||
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| Brownie Returns | Native Performance | Gold Blaze |
| 2000-1996 | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | ||
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| Torduff Boy | Joyful River | Jolly John |
| 1999 | ||
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| West Trix | Paddy's Pet | Pharmacy Trio |
| 1998 | ||
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| See Just There | Jimmy Dan | Fairy Mist |
| 1997 | ||
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| Interim Account | Royal Oasis | Another Deadly |
| 1996 | ||
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| Brook Hill Lady | Castalino | Steel Dawn |
The event was formerly a handicap, first run in 1996, and was called the Thurles Handicap Chase. It became a conditions race in 2004, and it was given Listed status in 2009 at which point the race was renamed the Thurles Chase.
It was renamed in 2011 in memory of John Meagher, a great supporter of Thurles, who had one of his biggest days there when Monanore, which he also bred, landed the prestigious Molony Cup when trained by his great friend Billy Harney. A keen amateur rider in his younger days, Meagher was nicknamed ‘Bougoure’ after the legendary Australian jockey Garnet Bougoure, who was attached to the Vincent O'Brien and Paddy Prendergast yards in the late 1950s and early 1960s.[1]
Since 2015 it has been sponsored by the Boomerang Horse & Country Store.
Records
Most successful jockey (4 wins):
- Ruby Walsh - See Just There (1998), Mossy Green (2005), Noble Prince (2013), Champagne Fever (2016)
- Davy Russell- Public Reaction (2006), War of Attrition (2008), Roi du Mee (2012), Alpha des Obeaux (2018)
Most successful trainer (6 wins):
- Willie Mullins– See Just There (1998), Mossy Green (2005), Sir Des Champs (2015),Champagne Fever (2016), Bachasson (2017), Footpad (2019)
Winners
| Year |
Winner |
Age |
Jockey |
Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Brook Hill Lady | 7 | Charlie Swan | Aidan O'Brien |
| 1997 | Interim Account | 11 | S H O'Donovan | Joseph G Murphy |
| 1998 | See Just There | 8 | Ruby Walsh | Willie Mullins |
| 1999 | West Trix VI | 8 | P M Verling | Gerard Cully |
| 2000 | Torduff Boy | 7 | Kieran Gaule | Paul Nolan |
| 2001 | Brownie Returns | 8 | Ken Whelan | Mouse Morris |
| 2002 | Spice Patrol | 6 | Shay Barry | Henry de Bromhead |
| 2003 | Ride The Storm | 6 | Barry Geraghty | Edward O'Grady |
| 2004 | Oh Be the Hokey | 6 | David Casey | Charlie Swan |
| 2005 | Mossy Green | 11 | Ruby Walsh | Willie Mullins |
| 2006 | Public Reaction | 8 | Davy Russell | Edward Hales |
| 2007 | Forget the Past | 9 | Andrew Lynch | Michael O'Brien |
| 2008 | War of Attrition | 9 | Davy Russell | Mouse Morris |
| 2009 | In Compliance | 9 | Paddy Flood | Dessie Hughes |
| 2010 | Glencove Marina | 8 | Barry Geraghty | Eoin Griffin |
| 2011 | Joncol | 8 | Barry Geraghty | Paul Nolan |
| 2012 | Roi du Mee | 7 | Davy Russell | Gordon Elliott |
| 2013 | Noble Prince | 9 | Ruby Walsh | Paul Nolan |
| 2014 | Home Farm | 7 | David Casey | Henry de Bromhead |
| 2015 | Sir Des Champs | 9 | Bryan Cooper | Willie Mullins |
| 2016 | Champagne Fever | 9 | Ruby Walsh | Willie Mullins |
| 2017 | Bachasson | 6 | Paul Townend | Willie Mullins |
| 2018 | Alpha des Obeaux | 8 | Davy Russell | Gordon Elliott |
| 2019 | Footpad | 7 | Daryl Jacob | Willie Mullins |
| 2020 | Presenting Percy | 9 | Jack Kennedy | Gordon Elliott |
References
- "Cairdin makes journey worthwhile for Mullins", Kilkenny People, 3 November 2011, archived from the original on 11 July 2020, retrieved 15 August 2020
- independent.ie – "Compliance back in the groove" (2009)