IT is not often that a former Grand National jockey who won at the Cheltenham Festival and earned millions in the saddle lands the most envied job in racing after retirement.
But that is exactly what has happened to former jumps rider Dean Gallagher.
He competed in the world’s most famous race eight times and came closest to winning in 1995 when he finished fourth on Dubacilla.
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Punters will remember that Aintree feature for 40-1 outsider Royal Athlete’s rampant seven-length victory.
Gallagher never added the world’s most famous race to his glowing CV.
But he made up for it with top-level success at Cheltenham and abroad.
There was the Champion Hurdle win aboard Hors La Loi III for trainer James Fanshawe in 2002.
Prior to that there was also County Hurdle success on Star Rage, big wins coming before his strike rate went into a different stratosphere across the Channel in France.
But, of course, that success abroad only came after he was arrested on suspicion of race-fixing in 1998 before being cleared of any wrongdoing 13 months later.
Cocaine positives threw Gallagher’s career into chaos too, a second-positive in 2002 leading him to say: “I wish to announce that I have tested positive for a banned substance that may signal the end of my career.
“It is well known that I have put a great deal of effort into my ongoing recovery but life is not always as easy as it often appears.
“I will try to maintain a career in racing despite this devastating news and I remain committed to my recovery.
“Those are not hollow words.”
After a period of soul-searching and getting his career back on track, Gallagher took a job at the racing equivalent of heaven.
The famed Ballydoyle stables in County Tipperary, Ireland, are where the biggest names in racing are turned from promising sorts into winning machines.
Arguably none of them has ever demanded as much attention as City Of Troy.
A son of the unbeaten US Triple Crown-winning phenomenon Justify, City Of Troy won the Derby with ease this year.
He swept all before him in his two-year-old career, the only blip being his flop when sent off 4-6 favourite for the 2000 Guineas.
Gallagher now has the incredible, enviable job of riding him out every day.
Before every big raceday Gallagher is the man who hops on his back and gets him to work over the famed Ballydoyle gallops.
Paying close attention to every inch of his powerful muscles, constantly assessing his mind and wind, O’Brien relies on Gallagher for feedback on his most precious equine athlete.
O’Brien is meticulous in everything he does and matches the right jockey with the right horse.
Telling, then, that he should put Gallagher on the undoubted stable star.
Speaking previously of how he divvies up work duties, O’Brien said: “It’s all about people, you’re kidding yourself if you think otherwise.
“We’ve a serious team of riders. We try to put the right personalities with the horses, match them as best we can. Communication is crucial.”
And speaking of his time working under O’Brien, Gallagher said: “To come and work here at Ballydoyle was the best thing that ever happened to me really.
“I enjoyed my racing career immensely but I’ve landed on my feet coming here.
“I enjoy every minute of it.”
Gallagher’s riding career was full of the dizzying highs and desperate lows many riders can relate to.
But only he knows what it’s like riding arguably the world’s greatest horse every day.
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