Unique star Monaghan continues to shine
HRI FEATURE brought to you by Fairyhouse and Navan Racecourse
Caragh Monaghan is Meath’s very own sporting superstar. A few months after winning an All-Ireland SFC title with the Royals in 2022, she was steering St Denis’s Well to victory in a handicap hurdle at the Navan Racing Festival. It’s a double that is highly unlikely to be done again.
An outstanding footballer for Seneschalstown, Monaghan’s primary passion has always been horses, and she has now established herself as one of the country’s best female riders.
She cites the late Joe Byrne as being a big influence as she was starting to ride and that first success at Navan’s biggest meeting was a big shock to everyone, including Caragh herself.
St Denis’s Well was a 40-1 outsider in a competitive 22-runner handicap hurdle, but Monaghan produced a masterclass in the saddle to bring him home four-and-three-quarter lengths in front of Makfils
“I couldn't believe I was still in front after jumping the last and still running on,” she admitted. “When I crossed the line, I nearly second guessed myself. It was such a thrill, and it was such a relief as well to get that off your shoulders.”
Since then, Monaghan has gone from strength to strength, and she had no hesitation in nominating her victory aboard Vaureal in a handicap chase for lady riders at last year’s Winter Festival at Fairyhouse as the highlight of her career to date.
“To win at Fairyhouse, my local track, was magic,” she said of that 7-2 success for trainer Ian Donoughue.
Monaghan and Vaureal went agonisingly close to adding a second Fairyhouse success at the Irish Grand National meeting last spring, only to be denied in the final stride by The Gradual Slope in the Ladies National.
Monaghan is mainly based with Donoghue these days and has become a key cog in his machine over the last few years. It's an operation going places fast.
Asked for her racing idols, she replied: “Katie Walsh and Barry Geraghty”, while Royal Gladiator was put forward as her horse to follow over the winter. Put him in your notebook.
This article is brought to you by Fairyhouse and Navan Racecourse.