Noel Fehily (born 24 December 1975) is a retired Irish professionalhorse racingjockey.[1] Throughout his professional career, he has enjoyed substantial success including theKing George VI Chase andChampion Hurdle, despite enduring significant injuries.[2]
In 2007, Fehily married Natasha Chappell at a wedding ceremony inGougane Barra,County Cork. He has two brothers Eamonn and Micheal who both have achievements in racing and Gaa.[3] Their father was a Cork farmer. Natasha describes him as having a very calm personality, saying: "If he was any more relaxed he'd be asleep."[4] They had their first child, a daughter, Niamh, on September 2, 2012.[5]
Fehily began his jockey career by working on the Irish point-to-point circuit. His next step was hunter chases, which became the field he ultimately specialised in. So he moved to the UK where he won at Plumpton, in 1998 riding Ivy Boy.[6][1]
In 2001 Fehily became Conditional Jump Jockey Champion.[7] After that he became the number one jockey in Charlie Mann's yard.[8]
In 2005 he became second jockey toJonjo O’Neill, at the same time, riding for trainerCharlie Mann.[7] In 2008 had his firstCheltenham Festival winner, which was on Silver Jaro. Later that year he won his first Grade 1, which was for Mann onAir Force One atPunchestown Racecourse in theChampion Novice Chase.[7] In the 2008/09 season he came fourth in the Jockeys’ table with 89 winners.
Fehily also had some rides forPaul Nicholls during the timeRuby Walsh was out with injuries or when Walsh was riding for Willie Mullins. Fehily won theTingle Creek Chase onMaster Minded in 2010. He rodeRock On Ruby in the2012 Champion Hurdle and won after he missed the 2010 and 2011 Cheltenham Festivals through injury.[9][10] In 2013 and 2014 he won the King George VI Chase onSilviniaco Conti.
In 2017 he again won theChampion Hurdle, this time onBuveur d'Air for trainerNicky Henderson.[11] The following day he also won theQueen Mother Champion Chase onSpecial Tiara. He rode Minella Rocco in the2017 Cheltenham Gold Cup following an injury to Barry Gerraghty. Minella Rocco came second by 2 and 3/4 lengths. Noel retired from racing in 2019, with his final race being in Newbury on 23 March
As of 2015, in his work, Fehily has sustained a shoulder injury and a horse falling on top of him atCheltenham.[12] He has endured injuries to both shoulders, a broken leg, as well as a wrist injury.[13]
Ireland
