Richard Dunwoody was bred into the Sport of Kings. His father George rode and trained many winners in his native Ireland, while his grandfather Dick Thrale also trained at Epsom. Amongst his many successes, he sent out Indigenous to win at his local course under Lester Piggott in 1960. The horse still holds the world record he set that day for five furlongs.

After the family moved to Newmarket, Richard rode out for Paul Kelleway from the age of 12 until, after leaving school in 1981, he joined Tim Forster's yard at Letcombe Bassett in Oxfordshire. As an amateur jockey, he rode his first winner on Game Trust at Cheltenham in May 1983, and the following spring rode a four-timer at Hereford as a 7lb claimer. He turned professional at the start of the 1984-85 season and found himself partnering the favourite of the Grand National, West Tip, nine months later.

They parted company at Becher's Brook, the 22nd fence, when travelling ominously well, but were able to atone for that mishap when winning the National 12 months later. Richard also became stable jockey to the late David Nicholson, 'The Duke' in 1986. It was the start of an extremely successful partnership; numerous big race wins were crowned by Charter Party taking the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 1988

Success was also to follow on the Michael Stoute-trained Kribensis in the Champion Hurdle in 1990, the season he took the ride on the great Desert Orchid. The partnership won seven races including two King George VI Chases and an Irish Grand National.

Richard became Champion Jockey for the first time in 1993 and that coincided with a move to Champion Trainer, Martin Pipe. He retained the championship twice more and landed a second Grand National when partnering the stable's Miinnehoma in 1994.

Turning freelance in 1995 Richard continued to ride for many of the leading yards in England and Ireland, including those of Dermot Weld, Edward O'Grady, Willie Mullins, Philip Hobbs, Paul Nicholls, Jenny Pitman and Gordon Richards. He rode One Man to win two more King Georges at Sandown and Kempton and won the Hennessey Gold Cup at Leopardstown on both Dorans Pride and Florida Pearl. A neck injury forced Richard's premature retirement in 1999, having clocked up almost 1,900 winners worldwide and having surpassed Peter Scudamore's record for all-time jumps wins.

Richard has undertaken various expeditions since hanging up his boots, including a 350-mile cross-country ski race to the Magnetic North Pole and in January 2008 completed an amazing 673-mile trek to the South Pole.

Always up for a challenge, Richard started a 1000 Mile Challenge to walk the same mile 1000 consecutive times for a 1000 consecutive hours in Newmarket on May 29, 2009. Ahead of the July Cup on July 10, he was joined for the last mile up the home straight of Newmarket racecourse by racing legend Lester Piggott.

The walk was inspired by Captain Robert Barclay Allardice, who was bet that he couldn’t walk 1000 miles in 1000 hours for 1000 Guineas in 1809.

Richard was on the road for 255 hours 57 minutes and 36 seconds and completed the challenge 39 hours and 51 seconds quicker than Captain Barclay, raising money for four charities – Racing Welfare, the Alzheimer’s Society, Sparks and Spinal Research.

In August 2009, Richard took part – albeit briefly – in the BBC’s popular Strictly Come Dancing programme, partnering Lilia Kopylova.

He quickly found out that the cha cha cha was not his strong suit and admitted taking to the dance floor made him feel "more nervous than I’ve ever been". He was voted off the show after two weeks.

Following his critically acclaimed autobiography 'Obsessed' in 2000, Richard released his follow-up 'Method In My Madness' in 2009, detailing the 10 years since his retirement from race riding.

Richard is a much-respected member of the BBC racing team, writes weekly racing columns for the Daily Mirror, Racing+ and Sportinglife.com and continues to offer his invaluable experience in mentoring, advising and encouraging young jockeys.

He is often asked to give his valued opinions to many racing-related bodies and excels in corporate team-building, motivational and after-dinner speaking.

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