Jockey Mark Enright calls time

Mark Enright and Parting Glass on their way to winning The Navan Racecourse Maiden. Photo: carolinenorris.ie

CASTLEMAHON jockey Mark Enright, 31, announced his retirement at the Curragh on Sunday.

He told the Racing Post that the daily grind of being a journeyman had become too demanding.

โ€œItโ€™s hard, driving around the country, sweating and riding bad horses. I did 8st 11lb on Saturday and I havenโ€™t eaten for a few days. I think I had a sandwich coming home from the races the other night. I had a McDonald’s earlier in the week, but nothing for a few days,โ€ Enright explained.

โ€œI decided it at Christmas and since I made the decision, Iโ€™ve just been enjoying it. I’ve been having great craic and great fun. I have to say Iโ€™ve enjoyed every bit of the last few months. Fozzy has been great, Ger Lyons has been brilliant. Ger put confidence in me that I havenโ€™t had for a while.โ€

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Enrightโ€™s career high was guiding the Gordon Elliot-trained 33/1 shot Clarcam to a shock win in the 2018 Galway Plate.

He said: โ€œThe Galway Plate was brilliant, but Iโ€™d say riding in my first Grand National was probably my highlight. I rode Thunder And Roses for Mouse (Morris). I thought I’d never ride in a Grand National so to do that was special. There have been some great days and some bad days, but Iโ€™ve enjoyed it.โ€

On his future, Enright added: โ€œThere are a couple of things in the pipeline and weโ€™ll see what happens. Iโ€™ll continue to ride out for Ger in the mornings. I love it over there; heโ€™s a great man.โ€

Enrightโ€™s first winner was Stephen Nolanโ€™s Doorock at Tipperary in Summer 2009.