Daryl Jacob unplaced on final ride at Leopardstown Daryl Jacob brought the curtain down on his illustrious riding career by finishing down the field aboard Mr Percy in the Neville Hotels Premier Handicap Hurdle at Leopardstown. The 41-year-old announced his retirement after steering the Willie Mullins-trained Impaire Et Passe to Grade One glory in the Faugheen Novice Chase at Limerick on Saturday, confirming that his solitary ride on the fourth and final day of Leopardstown’s Christmas Festival would be his last. Mr Percy, who carries the familiar colours of the rider’s retaining owners Simon Munir and Isaac Souede, was a 15-2 shot to give him a fairytale send-off but was unable to get involved, passing the post 12th of 18 finishers. Nevertheless, having suffered more than his fair share of injuries – only recently returning from his latest spell on the sidelines – Jacob was delighted to go out on his terms at a track where he enjoyed his first top-level triumph aboard The Listener in the Lexus Chase at this meeting 18 years ago. “I’m feeling great. I’ve been around an awful long time and it’s very special to come to Leopardstown today,” Jacob told Racing TV earlier in the day. “It’s the place where I had my first Grade One winner, a place that’s always been very close to my heart and one of the most beautiful tracks in the world to ride around. “It just felt right after riding Impaire Et Passe yesterday. It’s what I’ve worked so hard for, coming back from all those shoulder injuries, especially the last one as it was a complicated one. “I’ve worked incredibly hard in Oaksey House with all the team there and I just wanted that one opportunity to ride a Grade One winner. When I rode him yesterday and went over the line, with all those emotions, to me it just feels like the perfect ending.” Jacob has enjoyed huge success in the saddle, including a thrilling victory in the 2012 Grand National when Neptune Collonges denied Sunnyhillboy by a nose. The Listener provided him with three Grade One wins in Ireland, with his Lexus success followed by victories in the 2007 John Durkan and the 2008 Hennessy Gold Cup. More recently he has enjoyed a fruitful association with the likes of three-time Betfair Chase winner Bristol De Mai and Sceau Royal, aboard whom he won 15 races. Reflecting on that first Grade One win on The Listener in 2006, Jacob added: “I was only a claimer at the time and it took a huge amount of confidence from the boss Robert Alner and Sally Alner to put me on a Grade One horse coming over from England to Ireland. “There were a lot of very good staying chasers in England at the time and it took an awful lot of courage to put me on the horse with very little experience of riding in Grade Ones. “It’s been an extraordinary career and I never dreamed of the things that I’ve achieved. I’ve been very, very lucky. I’ve had so many people that have directed me and channelled me in the right direction. I’ve had a great team around me my whole career and I’m very grateful. “Neptune Collonges was a special horse and the only time I ever rode him was in the Grand National. He was a Gold Cup horse and a brilliant stayer and a great jumper. He had a big heart and to win that Grand National that day he needed every bit of courage that he had. “L’Ami Serge winning the French Champion Hurdle was a huge thrill and Bristol De Mai was an unbelievable horse. Nigel Twiston-Davies and his team did a fantastic job with him – I can’t explain how well they managed that horse’s career and I was just very lucky to be person that got to ride him. “I loved Sceau Royal so much – I owe so much to him. He had this wonderful attitude, he was a warrior and like a little terrier. He loved to have a ding-dong with other horses.” Jacob confirmed he will continue to work for Munir and Souede and is predicting a bright future. He said: “I genuinely believe that I’m going out and we’re in a really good position. “Obviously JJ (Slevin) is going to ride an awful lot of our horses now and Danny (Mullins), Brian Hayes and Ben Bromley. There’s loads of lads that are going ride plenty of these horses now. “I think the future is really exciting for the double green. I love going into all the yards and sitting on the horses and giving my little bit of feedback to Simon and Isaac and I’ll continue to do that and represent them whenever they’d like me to represent them. “I think the most important thing I’ll take out of it (my career) is having the support of Simon and Isaac. Eleven years is a long time and we’re closer now than we ever were, that’s something I’m very proud of.”
