Barry Cash, Mikey O’Connor
Notable Wins: Dr P J Moriarty Novice Chase: Mister Top Notch 2007
Having cut his teeth with fellow Limerick man Michael Hourigan, Fitzgerald sent out on his training career in 2001 and has not looked back since.
He had his first runner as a trainer when saddling All On John to finish down the field in a maiden chase at Tramore on New Years Day in 2002. He didn’t have to wait long to saddle his first winner, sending out Lesson Well to win a bumper at Wexford under J T McNamara on March 18th of that same year. At this stage of his career, Fitzgerald had a limited amount of runners, but he impressed with the strike rate of his horses through 2003 and 2004. Notable servants during this time were Camptect (3 wins), Iaskofyou (3 wins) and Prince Roscoe (2 wins).
Unquestionably, the first star performer that raced for Davy Fitzgerald was the admirably tough Pearly Jack. He gained the first win of his career when winning a bumper at Punchestown in good style in May 2003 and while he perhaps didn’t come up to expectations over hurdles, winning just a modest maiden at Clonmel the following spring, he would make up for lost time once sent over fences in 2004/5. He took some time to get the hang of the larger obstacles, but once he found his feet, he proved very progressive indeed. He won handicaps at Limerick and Thurles (2) before being sent over to contest the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival. Sent off a well-backed 16/1, he was still in contention when agonisingly being brought down at the third last. 2005/6 was a slightly frustrating season for the horse, as despite winning a race on the Flat and a handicap hurdle, he had near misses when finishing in the frame in the Kerry National and the Munster National. However, 2006/7 would see the son of Weld gain a much deserved big-race success when, having again finished in the frame in the Kerry National, he ground out a game victory in the Munster National at Limerick under Slippers Madden. He added a handicap hurdle to his tally five weeks later, but that would prove to his final win. While he has not seen a race track for 18 months, Pearly Jack more than played his part in establishing Fitzgerald in the Irish training ranks and he owes his connections nothing.
Just as Pearly Jack was beginning to make an impact over fences, Fitzgerald unleashed what would prove to be his highest-ever rated performer in the shape of Mister Top Notch. Like Pearly Jack, he too made his first impact in bumpers, winning two of those events in 2004/5. He was sent over hurdles the following season and again like Pearly Jack, he took time to find his feet, having just a maiden hurdle win at Limerick to his name at the end of the season. 2006/7 saw Mister Top Notch sent over fences and once again in common with Pearly Jack, the larger obstacles brought out the very best in Fitzgerald’s charge. While he met with defeat on his first three starts over fences, he came good in no uncertain terms in the prestigious Dr. P J Moriarty Novice Chase (Grade 1) on Hennessy Gold Cup day at Leopardstown. Ridden by Conor O’Dwyer, Fitzgerald’s charge was in front by a length at the last but under strong pressure when he was left clear by the fall of the challenging Alexander Taipan, coming home seven lengths in front to give Fitzgerald a spectacular first Graded success. While he failed to add to his tally in just one additional start that season, 2007/8 would be an even more lucrative campaign for Mister Top Notch. From the outset, Fitzgerald had one big race in mind for him and following a perfect prep when winning a minor hurdle race eight days earlier, Mister Top Notch ran out the game winner of the highly-valuable Pierse Leopardstown Handicap Chase off top-weight under Conor O’Dwyer. Back at the same track a month later, he ran just as well to finish fourth in the Hennessy Gold Cup before giving Conor O’Dwyer a perfect send off on the final ride of his long career as a jockey when winning a conditions hurdle race on Irish Grand National Day at the Fairyhouse Easter Festival. This season has seen the nine-year-old prove as good as ever, finishing a highly-creditable second in the Munster National and he can be expected to give another good account of himself at his beloved Leopardstown over the Christmas period.
While Mister Top Notch has done and will continue to do more than enough to keep the Davy Fitzgerald yard in the public consciousness, he looks to have another pair of progressive young chasers on his hands in the shape of Skip Too and Operation Houdini.
Skip Two was just an average sort over hurdles, winning just one handicap hurdle from 11 starts over the smaller obstacles. However, like so many Fitzgerald horses before him, he has proved a different proposition over fences, winning three times over the larger obstacles last summer, including at the Galway Festival. Since then, he acquitted himself very well indeed when finishing third in the Munster National and he looks to have a solid future in valuable handicap chases.
Operation Houdini is an excellent example of Davy Fitzgerald’s ability to be patient with his horses. A big chasing sort, he started off his career just under two years ago and failed to any ice in any of his six starts in both hurdles and chases. However, once entering handicaps he gradually began to show ability, finishing in the frame once over hurdles and four times over fences in 2007/8. However, this season has seen a stronger, more physically mature Operation Houdini deliver on the promise of those efforts. Following another handicap of placed efforts over fences, the six-year-old finally got off the mark in a 3m 1f handicap chase at Punchestown in October. With his confidence undoubtedly boosted by that win, he doubled his tally on his very next start in a valuable event at Galway. With it now clear that he had an improving horse on his hands, Fitzgerald aimed his charge at the Cork Grand National, but the conclusion to that race would prove a bitter pill to swallow for all concerned. Having looked beaten for all money with three fences to jump, Operation Houdini rallied strongly to lead on the run-in, idling close home and just hanging on by a short-head. However, a steward’s inquiry was called and following a lengthy wait, it was announced that Operation Houdini was to be demoted to second having hampered the eventual runner-up at the second last. Many judges felt the decision was very harsh, but three weeks later the horse bid for compensation in the even more prestigious Troytown Handicap Chase at Navan. Ridden this time by Stephan Gray, Fitzgerald’s charge again acquitted himself extremely well, showing an excellent attitude in finishing a length second to Notre Pere.
With Mister Top Notch and Operation Houdini spearheading Davy Fitzgerald’s bid for glory at the Christmas Festival at Leopardstown and it would be no surprise if one, if not both of them went very close in their respective races.
December 2008
