Principal Trainers: Jessica Harrington
Notable Wins:
- I.T.B.A. Galway Plate Trial Handicap Chase (Ballyholland 2009)
- Total Event Rental Mares Hurdle (Give It Time 2008)
- Galway Blazers Handicap Chase (Ballito 2008)
Early Days
Mark Bolger had his first racecourse ride the James Kelly-trained Citizen in a bumper at Naas on 2nd August 2004 and rode his first winner the following May on the Mick Halford-trained Masamiyr in a bumper at Ballinrobe. Riding primarily for Halford and Oliver McKiernan at the time, he only entered the winner’s enclosure on one more occasion that season, riding the Halford-trained Balakan to success in a bumper at Cork the following July. However, Bolger was getting more and more rides from a variety of trainers and was making a positive impression on many of them.
Professional Life
It was in July 2006 that Bolger took the brave decision to turn professional and while it took him almost a year to the day to ride his first winner as a pro, on the John Carr-trained Motaraqeb in a handicap hurdle at Sligo, he found himself increasingly busy in the months that followed. Having become associated with the Jessica Harrington yard in the autumn of that year, his career began to blossom and after riding the Harrington-trained Vaqueras to success in a handicap hurdle at Naas in early-January 2008, his public profile began to grow. Six days later he came within two lengths of landing a significant prize when finishing second on the Harrington-trained Personal Column in the Grade 3 Punchestown Juvenile Hurdle and in the weeks and months that followed he registered wins on Western Gale (2), Give It Time, Top Of The Rock, Dover Street and Horner Woods.
A Season To Remember
The 2008/9 season would prove to be Bolger’s break-out season and it started with a flurry for him, riding Mullicagh Lass, Carpenter and Princess Nicole to victory in the opening days of May. He continued in the same vein of form during the summer months, riding another six winners in the build-up to the Galway Festival and it was at that he gained one of his more high-profile successes thus far, riding the George Stanley-trained Ballito to victory in an incident-packed renewal of the Galway Blazers Handicap Chase. His next win came at another festival meeting, this time at the Listowel Harvest Festival on the Seamus Fahey-trained Randall’s Diana in a handicap hurdle. Less than a month later, Bolger gained what remains his most high-profile win, riding the Harrington-trained Give It Time to a facile victory in the Listed Total Event Rental Mares Hurdle at Punchestown. In the build up to Christmas, Bolger kept his name in people’s minds with wins on the likes of Selection Box, Cnoc An Einn, Top Of The Rock, The Dashing Doctor and Bold As Brass. Bolger began the Christmas period at Limerick, finishing in the frame on all three of his rides, most notably finding just one too good on Top Of The Rock in the Grade 2 Guinness Greenmount Park Novice Chase. However, he made no mistake the following day at Leopardstown, riding the Harrington-trained Out Voted to success in the juvenile hurdle. Bolger continued to progress in the remaining months of the season, entering the winner’s enclosure on the likes of Sibenek, Liscarton Oscar and Cnoc An Einn.
A Frustrating Period
The 2009/10 started off in good style for Bolger, with him riding the Colin McBratney-trained Ballyholland to success in the I.T.B.A. Galway Plate Trial Handicap Chase at Down Royal in June. However, McBratney decided to give the ride back to Andrew McNamara for the Galway Plate and it must have been agonising for Bolger to have to watch him romp to an easy success in the Galway feature. Unfortunately, it was a sign of things to come for Bolger and the remainder of the season proved to be frustrating for him, with him adding just two more wins to his tally.
2010/11 has been similarly frustrating for Bolger thus far, but his talent remains intact and with Jessica Harrington continuing in electric form, his luck is sure to turn before too long.
Info supplied by Horse Racing Ireland - Updated January 2011
