Rory Cleary on his way to winnuing the race named after his late brother Sean on the Kevin Coleman-trained Thatwilldoso in Roscommon last week. Photo: Patrick McCann/Racing Post.

Athlone jockey again wins race held in memory of his brother

Kieran Galvin

Published: Mon 7 Jul 2025, 2:02 PM

Last updated: Mon 7 Jul 2025, 2:17 PM

Rory Cleary notched up with his third win in the race named after his late brother when claiming victory in the Sean Cleary Memorial Handicap at Roscommon last Tuesday evening.

The Athlone jockey was on board the Kevin Coleman-trained Thatwilldoso.

Rory teamed up with his father Tom Cleary to win the race in 2015 and was successful again, riding for Jim Bolger, the following year.

On this occasion, Rory came in for the ride on the 9/1 chance when Jamie Powell was stood down after an earlier fall. And he certainly made the most of the opportunity to bring the four-year-old home a length and a quarter winner from Edward O'Grady’s 8/1 shot Stormie Outlook.

The late Sean Cleary died in 2003, six days after a fall from a horse in a flat race in Galway. His son Sean Cleary Farrell has carried on the family tradition by becoming a jockey and he has enjoyed some notable wins.