Craughwell jockey Alain Cawley was celebrating the biggest win of his racing career when he steered Joncol home to claim the Hennessy Gold Cup at Leopardstown at the weekend.
The win in Ireland’s premier Steeplechase has attracted widespread attention in the racing world for the 22-years-old Galway jockey, whose parents own Cawley’s Pub in Craughwell.
Known in racing circles as Squeaky, Alain Cawley is regarded as one of Ireland’s up and coming jockeys. Always interested in the equestrian world, hunting with the Galway Blazers and working with trainer Paul Gilligan, he joined Nolan’s stable in Wexford aged 16.
However the young jockey has been a patient apprentice. Although he had his first race at the 2004 Listowel Harvest Festival, it was not until 2006 that he rode his first winner. In 2008 Cawley’s career took off, culminating in his selection on an Irish team invited to Australia to compete in a series of races.
And last weekend, after a disappointing third on Joncol in the Lexus Chase, Cawley pounced after the last jump, beating the Willie Mullins-trained Cooldine in the 20th running of the Hennessy Gold Cup.
