Hugh Finegan has been training horses for almost a quarter of a century!
His small stable in Rahood outside Nobber continues to punch above its weight.
Thursday, 05 November 2026
Futurum Regem winning at Navan Racecourse!
ady Bluebird has been flying high of late, winning at Wexford before chasing home classy sorts in the famous festivals at Galway and Listowel, and her trainer Hugh Finegan believes a big handicap could be coming her way sooner rather than later.
Finegan has been training horses for almost a quarter of a century, having taken out his licence in 2003, and his small stable in Rahood outside Nobber continues to punch above its weight.
The marquee moment in Finegan's training career arrived at Navan back in 2021 when stable star Futurum Regem landed the valuable Tara Handicap Hurdle. It was the first leg of a quickfire double for the terrific money-spinner who had won at the same track the previous month.
"They were great days with Futurum Regem, he was a great bit of stuff," says Finegan. "The fact that he won those two races at Navan made it even more special. You can beat winning at your local track, and they were two huge days for us.
"We did a bit of celebrating in Scanlon’s in Kilberry afterwards, alright! We got a great kick of it, and you have to give it a lash when you win races like that."
Horses have always been a part of Finegan's life with his mother and father running Thomastown Stud and he has carried on the tradition.
Finegan's first winner arrived at Sligo in 2004 when Santa's Girl landed won a handicap hurdle and since then horses like Ms Agartha Yeats, Happy Lad, Gemma's Flame, Never A Secret and the aforementioned Futurum Regem have kept him on the map. Now the baton has now been handed over to the exciting mare Lady Bluebird.
She won twice over hurdles, but she has improved out of all recognition since being sent over fences and Finegan feels something big could be around the corner.
"Lady Bluebird is a very smart mare and she jumps great. That's her main asset," the trainer said. "She ran well at Galway and Listowel, and the plan now is to try and win a big handicap with her. I do think there is one in her."
The trainer's nephew Eoghan Finegan has been making a real name for himself of late, too, and is hot properly right now, adding another winner to his tally at Galway a few days ago when steering Castleheath to victory for Westmeath-based trainer Ciaran Murphy.
"Eoghan is going great guns," said his proud uncle. "He obviously started out with us here, but it's hard to get him now because everybody wants him. He's flying. He still rides work for me and he's a great lad to have around the place. Hopefully things continue going in the right direction for him."
Lady Bluebird is ensuring things continue to go in the right direction for Hugh Finegan, as well, and it will be interesting to see will she appear at the Navan Racing Festival the weekend after next. As her trainer said, local success is the best type of success.
First winner: Santa's Girl at Sligo in 2004
Racing idols: Joe Byrne, Tom McGivern, Frank Berry and Tommy Carberry
Career highlight: Futurum Regem winning the Tara Handicap Hurdle at Navan in 2021
Horse to follow: Lady Bluebird
Finegan has been training horses for almost a quarter of a century, having taken out his licence in 2003, and his small stable in Rahood outside Nobber continues to punch above its weight.
The marquee moment in Finegan's training career arrived at Navan back in 2021 when stable star Futurum Regem landed the valuable Tara Handicap Hurdle. It was the first leg of a quickfire double for the terrific money-spinner who had won at the same track the previous month.
"They were great days with Futurum Regem, he was a great bit of stuff," says Finegan. "The fact that he won those two races at Navan made it even more special. You can beat winning at your local track, and they were two huge days for us.
"We did a bit of celebrating in Scanlon’s in Kilberry afterwards, alright! We got a great kick of it, and you have to give it a lash when you win races like that."
Horses have always been a part of Finegan's life with his mother and father running Thomastown Stud and he has carried on the tradition.
Finegan's first winner arrived at Sligo in 2004 when Santa's Girl landed won a handicap hurdle and since then horses like Ms Agartha Yeats, Happy Lad, Gemma's Flame, Never A Secret and the aforementioned Futurum Regem have kept him on the map. Now the baton has now been handed over to the exciting mare Lady Bluebird.
She won twice over hurdles, but she has improved out of all recognition since being sent over fences and Finegan feels something big could be around the corner.
"Lady Bluebird is a very smart mare and she jumps great. That's her main asset," the trainer said. "She ran well at Galway and Listowel, and the plan now is to try and win a big handicap with her. I do think there is one in her."
The trainer's nephew Eoghan Finegan has been making a real name for himself of late, too, and is hot properly right now, adding another winner to his tally at Galway a few days ago when steering Castleheath to victory for Westmeath-based trainer Ciaran Murphy.
"Eoghan is going great guns," said his proud uncle. "He obviously started out with us here, but it's hard to get him now because everybody wants him. He's flying. He still rides work for me and he's a great lad to have around the place. Hopefully things continue going in the right direction for him."
Lady Bluebird is ensuring things continue to go in the right direction for Hugh Finegan, as well, and it will be interesting to see will she appear at the Navan Racing Festival the weekend after next. As her trainer said, local success is the best type of success.
First winner: Santa's Girl at Sligo in 2004
Racing idols: Joe Byrne, Tom McGivern, Frank Berry and Tommy Carberry
Career highlight: Futurum Regem winning the Tara Handicap Hurdle at Navan in 2021
Horse to follow: Lady Bluebird