Champion Jockey Axed from £3 Million Rides, Prompting Last-Minute Change from Willie Mullins

CHAMPION Irish jockey Dylan Browne McMonagle has been removed from two rides worth £3MILLION with immediate effect.

The hugely talented 23-year-old has forced Willie Mullins into a late jockey change.

Dylan Browne McMonagle steered Ethical Diamond to his stunning Breeders’ Cup Turf success but trainer Willie Mullins has been forced to draft in a replacement rider with McMonagle out of Dubai World Cup nightCredit: Getty The jockey posted this photo indicating he was returning to Ireland after being forced to give up £3m in rides at Meydan

McMonagle was down to ride the Joseph O’Brien-trained hot favourite Al Riffa in the Group 2 Dubai Gold Cup on the turf at Meydan tomorrow.

And he was booked for the spin on Mullins’ Breeders’ Cup Turf-winning hero Ethical Diamond in the Sheema Classic.

Victory in both races would have netted a huge £3m for connections, with more than £2.5m of it coming in the star-studded Sheema.

But McMonagle posted a photo this morning on a flight back from Dubai – which has been – to Ireland saying ‘home time’.

Turns out he has suffered an injury – the details of which are currently unknown – and cannot race.

Declan McDonagh will now ride 6-4 fav Al Riffa.

While Danny Tudhope gets the leg up on 9-2 Ethical Diamond, who faces 4-11 fav and world’s best racehorse Calandagan in a belting Sheema.

McMonagle follows .

Moore was removed from six rides worth a possible £7m because Aidan O’Brien needs him at the Curragh.

The Ballydoyle boss and Coolmore pulled rank so Moore can steer 2,000 Guineas fav Albert Einstein on his seasonal return in Gladness Stakes.

Moore will go to the Irish track after on Wednesday night.

The man regarded by many to be the finest jockey in the world gave an on Friday morning.

Mullins remains upbeat on former County Hurdle fourth Ethical Diamond’s chances despite the late change.

He said: “We’ve hopefully sent him over there as fit as a flea.

“I see he’s had the longest break of any of the horses in the field without a run but I had always wanted to give him a break after America.

“It’s the start of a long year for him but we’ve tried to get him as fit as we can at home.

“Hopefully he can run well. If he can finish in the first three I think we’ll be happy.”

Remember to gamble responsibly

A responsible gambler is someone who:

• Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
• Only gambles with money they can afford to lose
• Never chases their losses
• Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry or depressed
• Gamcare – www.gamcare.org.uk
• Gamble Aware – www.gambleaware.org

Find our .