Michael Byrne pays tribute to the tragic death of the 36-year-old Irish jockey who rode in the Grand National

The horse racing community in Ireland and elsewhere is stunned following the sudden death of a former Grand National jockey.

Michael Byrne of Tipperary, who competed in the Grand National and had 96 career wins, died on Saturday at the age of 36.

The 36-year-old former rider, who competed in the 2014 Grand National and rode winning horses at Cheltenham and several other major racetracks, has received dozens of honours.

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Byrne rode some winning horses in Ireland before moving to the UK where he enjoyed a successful career before retiring in 2016 and returning home to prepare horses for sale.

He is the nephew of the renowned point-to-point trainer Pat Doyle, who coached many successful show jumpers in their early years and worked with his uncle at his Suirview Stables.

Doyle told the Racing Post: “Michael was a very successful jockey and a brilliant rider and it is very, very sad.

“He was a great guy who was interested in horses and football. He had three brothers and two sisters and the whole family is very close. He was a wonderful young man with a wonderful family around him and we will miss him very much.”

The Cahir-bred stallion had his best time in Britain for Welsh-based trainer Tim Vaughan, riding a total of 61 wins for the Cowbridge-based trainer.

“It's just so sad and I'm devastated for Michael's family and friends,” said Vaughan, who backed Byrne's horse Golan Way at Aintree in 2014, which was won by Pineau De Re.

“He was a lovely man – reliable, honest and loyal. He started his career in Peter Bowen's stables and worked for us for about five years. Dicky (Richard) Johnson was our main jockey at the time and Michael was on proviso, riding his claim here. We had a lot of success together and got on brilliantly.

“He was a wonderful boy from a wonderful family and there is no other word to describe this other than tragic,” Vaughan said.

In 2010, Byrne was in the winners' enclosure after the Listed fillies' race at Aintree when the Bowen-trained Big Time Billy won at the high odds of 28-1.

The following month, Byrne won again at Aintree when he rode Take The Stand to second place in the 2005 Cheltenham Gold Cup, just nine days after the pair's triumph on Hunter Chase Night at Prestbury Park.

Buck Magic reached another career milestone there by securing a conditional jockeys' handicap obstacle at the 2021 November Meeting.

The thoroughbred's trainer, Neil Mulholland, said: “Michael will be missed very much. He was a lovely guy and always rode here. Many of my staff worked with him and they are saddened by the news. Our thoughts are with his family and friends.”

Funeral arrangements have been announced and a funeral mass will be held on Thursday at Holycross Abbey in Thurles.

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