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Maxwell is a man going places.
Conor Maxwell's autobiography would be some read if he ever gets around to writing it and the next chapter in an extraordinary career in racing has seen him taking out a training licence from his base in Stamullen.
Tuesday, 28 October 2025
Conor Maxwell's autobiography would be some read if he ever gets around to writing it and the next chapter in an extraordinary career in racing has seen him taking out a training licence from his base in Stamullen.
One of the few dual-purpose jockeys of the modern era, Maxwell has the distinction of winning the Leopardstown Chase and riding in a three-year-old fillies maiden on the Flat around the Foxrock track. There can't be too many jockeys with that double on their CV. He was a jack of all trades.
The big Leopardstown Chase win came on board Glamorgan Duke in 2020, where Maxwell teamed up with trainer Paul Gilligan for a shock success on the 33-1 outsider. He was typically strong in the finish there, holding on by a head from Trainwreck in the closing stages.
But even that feeling doesn't compare to the one he experienced at Gowran Park in May of last year when Play It Again Zaam landed a mile handicap under Robert Whearty. It was a landmark moment, his first official winner as a trainer.
"It was some buzz," said Maxwell of that first triumph. "When you ride a winner, you take off the saddle and away you go. That's it. You could go for a pint or whatever. When you train them you have to look after them and that makes it mean a bit more. So much work goes into getting a horse ready for a race so that's why it means more."
On the transition from jockey to trainer, Maxwell said: "I've made peace with it now. It took me a while to get my head around not riding any more but Ciara Losty [sports psychologist] was brilliant. It was walking away from the weighing room and moving away from that environment that I found the hardest part but, as I've said, I've made peace with it now."
Maxwell was a really good rider and underrated. His last-gasp success on Mousey Brown for Dermot McLoughlin in the Listed I.N.H. Stallion Owners EBF Novice Handicap Hurdle Series Final at Fairyhouse's Irish Grand National meeting in 2024 epitomised him as a rider. Tactically astute and strong in the finish.
He rode ten winners at Fairyhouse in his career and five at Navan.
When asked for his idol growing up, Maxwell replied: "It would have to be Paul Carberry. I followed him everywhere, even in the Ward Union Hunt. He was class. I also loved Richard Hughes on the Flat and rode for his father Dessie, too. He was top-notch."
As regards the future, Maxwell is quickly making a name for himself as a trainer and a young horse called Mister Finch could be the one to help his reputation soar further.
He said: "I trained a horse to finish second in a point-to-point at the weekend, Mister Finch was his name. He made a late mistake but he was unlucky not to win. I think he's top-class and I wouldn't be one bit surprised to see him fly up the Cheltenham hill someday. I really do think he;s that good. He's got a massive future."
So, too, does his trainer. Maxwell is a man going places.
One of the few dual-purpose jockeys of the modern era, Maxwell has the distinction of winning the Leopardstown Chase and riding in a three-year-old fillies maiden on the Flat around the Foxrock track. There can't be too many jockeys with that double on their CV. He was a jack of all trades.
The big Leopardstown Chase win came on board Glamorgan Duke in 2020, where Maxwell teamed up with trainer Paul Gilligan for a shock success on the 33-1 outsider. He was typically strong in the finish there, holding on by a head from Trainwreck in the closing stages.
But even that feeling doesn't compare to the one he experienced at Gowran Park in May of last year when Play It Again Zaam landed a mile handicap under Robert Whearty. It was a landmark moment, his first official winner as a trainer.
"It was some buzz," said Maxwell of that first triumph. "When you ride a winner, you take off the saddle and away you go. That's it. You could go for a pint or whatever. When you train them you have to look after them and that makes it mean a bit more. So much work goes into getting a horse ready for a race so that's why it means more."
On the transition from jockey to trainer, Maxwell said: "I've made peace with it now. It took me a while to get my head around not riding any more but Ciara Losty [sports psychologist] was brilliant. It was walking away from the weighing room and moving away from that environment that I found the hardest part but, as I've said, I've made peace with it now."
Maxwell was a really good rider and underrated. His last-gasp success on Mousey Brown for Dermot McLoughlin in the Listed I.N.H. Stallion Owners EBF Novice Handicap Hurdle Series Final at Fairyhouse's Irish Grand National meeting in 2024 epitomised him as a rider. Tactically astute and strong in the finish.
He rode ten winners at Fairyhouse in his career and five at Navan.
When asked for his idol growing up, Maxwell replied: "It would have to be Paul Carberry. I followed him everywhere, even in the Ward Union Hunt. He was class. I also loved Richard Hughes on the Flat and rode for his father Dessie, too. He was top-notch."
As regards the future, Maxwell is quickly making a name for himself as a trainer and a young horse called Mister Finch could be the one to help his reputation soar further.
He said: "I trained a horse to finish second in a point-to-point at the weekend, Mister Finch was his name. He made a late mistake but he was unlucky not to win. I think he's top-class and I wouldn't be one bit surprised to see him fly up the Cheltenham hill someday. I really do think he;s that good. He's got a massive future."
So, too, does his trainer. Maxwell is a man going places.