Born in Kilmessen, County Meath, Adrian Magiure was somewhat of a pony racing prodigy prior to turning professional.
Maguire realised quickly that to reach the top of the National Hunt scene, he would need to move to England and he did just that, joining the yard of Toby Balding; the trainer credited with the discovery of the great AP McCoy.
He was incredibly entered into the 1991 Grand National at just 19 years old and his resulting entry into public consciousness was explosive, finishing a remarkable fourth place on Omiceron demonstrating extraordinary composure that defied his age.
Maguire was often considered to be “an old head on young shoulders”, being intensely focused. He quickly caught the eye of David “The Duke” Nicholson, arguably one of the most powerful and demanding trainers in the sport, based at Jackdaws Castle.
Known as a taskmaster who broke many young jockeys, it is understood that Nicholson saw a toughness in Maguire that matched his own. He took over as the principal jockey at Jackdaws Castle; a high-pressure entry into the elite and consequently transitioned from promising youngster to the man responsible for some of the UK’s most expensive and talented bloodstock.
In 1992, he secured his first major Cheltenham Festival win aboard Omiceron in the National Hunt Handicap Chase. This was a crucial win, because it proved that he could handle the pressure of the “Cheltenham Roar”, and set the scene for the 1993 Cheltenham Festival where he went from rising star to superstar.
Upward Trajectory
After his breakthrough in 1992, Maguire went on to ride for multiple horse racing trainers, alongside his primary role for Nicholson. It was often common for him to fly between racecourses in light aircraft to make evening races following an afternoon meeting; a gruelling pace, but which contributed towards considerable win totals.
He perfected a style during this time that pundits called the “quietest in the business”; while rivals like Richard Dunwoody were often known for their visible strength, Maguire’s efficiency came from his balance, poise and grace. Indeed, it looked like he barely moved, yet horses appeared to find an extra gear for him; a great testament.
Essentially, the 1993/94 season saw him and Dunwoody go head-to-head and essentially engage in a “shadow boxing”match that lasted 12 months. Maguire was famously riding winners at a rate of more or less, one per day, stretching the record books and finishing with 194 wins. This figure would have been enough to make him champion in 46 out of 50 of the previous seasons.
Next Level Success And A Rollercoaster Ride
Maguire would push on in the seasons that followed. If there is one horse that defines his career, this would arguably be Viking Flagship and their victory in the 1994 Queen Mother Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival is considered to be one of the gutsiest in racing history as they won a three-way photo finish pipping both Travado and Deep Sensation.
This was his second major win, after winning the King George at Kempton on Boxing Day in 1993 on Barton Bank, which essentially established him as a “big race” jockey. A year later though, came heartbreak, when the horse unseated Maguire after the last fence, following a freakish step.
By the late 1990s, it was increasingly difficult for Maguire to compete, following the emergence and rise of McCoy. Although he remained a top five jockey, the sheer volume of McCoy’s victories made the title elusive.
He returned to Ireland in 2000 after a decade at the top of the British game, where he began to ride for Irish yards, where he began to prepare for the next chapter of his life, though still maintained a high strike rate in Britain. Maguire is considered to be the greatest jockey to never win the British