A spectacular edition of the Qatar Goodwood Festival dominated the headlines on British shores last week, with Scandinavia, Bow Echo, and Diamond Necklace producing memorable displays in the meeting’s three Group 1 contests. However, Sussex wasn’t the only stage for a multi-day meeting as July turned to August. Over in Ireland, the Ballybrit venue of Galway plays host to its signature fixture.
While not able to match the quality on display at Goodwood, the Galway Festival outdoes the English event in terms of quantity. Held over a marathon seven days, this popular fixture tests the stamina of even the most committed punters. Many patrons may need a long lie-down when the meeting draws to a close on Sunday afternoon, but one man likely to leave Galway with a spring in his step is 21-year-old jockey Daniel King.
Arriving at Galway behind only Darragh O’Keeffe in the Irish Champion Jockey standings, the County Cork native exploded into the limelight with a big race double last achieved 42 years ago.
Kings are Crowned in Galway Plate
| Positon | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | King Alexander | Willie Mullins | Daniel King | 20/1 |
| 2nd | Conyers Hill | Paul Nolan | Alan O’Sullivan | 25/1 |
| 3rd | Gorgeous Tom | Henry De Bromhead | Patrick M O’Brien | 25/1 |
| 4th | Nowwhatdoyouthink | Gordon Elliott | Jack Kennedy | 7/1 |
Having drawn a blank from his two rides on the opening day, King hit the target with the Denis Hogan-trained Frankie John in the Latin Quarter Beginners Chase on Day 2. Welcome as success in that €15,878 event was, it paled in comparison to his next victory.
Twelve months on from finishing 15th aboard Gaelic Arc, King made his second appearance in the €270,000 Galway Plate. His partner in crime this year was the Willie Mullins-trained King Alexander. Sporting the silks of Cypriot owner John Ioannis Neocleous, the eight-year-old had only one previous win over fences and was last sighted finishing a well-beaten sixth at Punchestown in April. With that recent form in mind, King Alexander was the 20/1 outsider of the four-strong Mullins team.
Outsider or not, King Alexander travelled like a dream throughout and remained to the fore as stablemates Funiculi Funicula, Spread Boss Ted, and Ballygunner Castle began to flounder. While many riders began to ask their mounts for everything around the home turn, King was a picture of calm in the saddle. Waiting for his moment, he timed his finishing effort to perfection. Kicking clear with a furlong to go, King Alexander held on from the fast-finishing Conyers Hill to score by half a length.
The biggest handicap win and financial success of Daniel King’s career represented a first victory for Mullins on what was his fifth ride for the Closutton handler. Reflecting on one of the fastest rising stars in Irish racing, Mullins stated, “He appears to be one of the brightest young talents in the weighing room and today franked that.”
Putapoundinthejar a Money-Spinner in Galway Hurdle
| Positon | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Putapoundinthejar | Tony Martin | Daniel King | 10/1 |
| 2nd | Thisistheway | Yvonne Latta | Michael Kenneally | 22/1 |
| 3rd | Gameball | Henry De Bromhead | Darragh O’Keeffe | 14/1 |
| 4th | Ragmans Corner | Gerard Keane | Eoghan Finegan | 22/1 |
Buoyed by his Plate success on Day 3, King headed into the Day 4 feature of the Galway Hurdle on a high. While he had never previously ridden King Alexander, this time he had a more familiar partner in the shape of the Tony Martin-trained Putapoundinthejar.
Now six years old, Putapoundinthejar provided the tragic Michael O’Sullivan with the final win of his life in January 2025. King partnered the son of Walk In The Park for the first time in a Bellewstown handicap earlier in July. Needing to win to secure a place in the Galway Hurdle field, King produced a composed ride to score by a cosy half-length, leading Tony Martin to compare the young rider to Ruby Walsh.
King has a long way to go to match the achievements of one of the greatest natural talents to ever emerge from the Emerald Isle. However, he ensured his reputation received a further boost with another ice-cool display in the Grade 3 contest.
Settling his mount in midfield in the 20-runner event, King saved ground around the inside and began to creep into contention at the end of the back straight. Allowing his mount to take him into the race, he was the last to reach for the whip, by which point the 10/1 chance had eased into the lead. Once asked to pick up the pace, the response was electric. Quickening away, Putapoundinthejar ended the race in a matter of strides to score by 3¼l to hand King a second €270,000 success in as many days.
Tony Martin was once again quick to praise the young jockey, stating “For a lad of his age, he is unbelievable. I haven’t seen a talent like that in a lot of years.” King, meanwhile, struggled to sum up an incredible two days: “It’s amazing, an unbelievable feeling. Same as yesterday, I’m just lost for words again to be honest. It’s magical stuff really, the stuff of dreams really.”
To win one of the Galway Plate or Galway Hurdle is high on the wish list of many Irish jockeys. To win both in the same year is a rare achievement indeed. Before King’s heroics, the most recent rider to complete the feat was Joe Byrne back in 1984. Oozing star quality, class, and composure, this is unlikely to be the last time Daniel King hits the headlines.