Trainer Pat Flynn today paid tribute to apprentice rider Sean Cleary who died yesterday evening.
The 22-year-old suffered serious head injuries in a fall at Galway last Sunday and had been in a coma at the Beaumont Hospital in Dublin but his condition deteriorated last night.
Cleary served the first part of his apprenticeship with Jim Bolger before switching to join Flynn's yard 12 months ago.
The Athlone-born rider had partnered 14 winners this season and Flynn praised Cleary's dedication to his job.
"It's a terrible situation that Sean was cruelly mowed down in the prime of his life," he said.
"He was very dedicated, was enjoying his best season and had a real future as a strong lightweight.
"He was a credit to his family. He always came in in good form and there was never a complaint whether you wanted him to ride five or six lots or pick stones on the gallops."
Cleary was riding All Heart for Paddy Mullins in the seven-furlong Corrib Oil Auction Race when his mount clipped the heels of another runner and fell about half a mile from the finish.
He was first taken to Galway University Hospital, but was transferred by helicopter to the neuro-surgical department of the intensive care unit at the Beaumont Hospital, where he died.
The rider is one of the stars of the documentary "Only Fools Buy Horses" which is due to be shown on RTE in late December.
The programme is based around a horse called Traverse who was trained by Flynn and ridden by Cleary for the TV personality Hector O'Heochagain.
Traverse won a sprint event at Ballinrobe for Cleary in August and Flynn believes the happy memories in the programme will offer some comfort to his family and friends.
"The one consolation for his parents is that he will feature as the star turn on TV in December," Flynn added. "The day he won on Traverse in a photo finish he gave the horse a super ride.'ve never seen a smile so bright on his face as when he came back."
Fellow apprentice David Condon, who is in Australia to ride Holy Orders in Tuesday's Tooheys New Melbourne Cup, was quick to pay tribute to Cleary.
He said: "Sean was a very good friend of mine. We went racing on numerous occasions when he was working with Jim Bolger.
"It's very sad news and I will be riding on Tuesday in Sean's memory."
Cleary partnered four winners for trainer Pat Martin in a three week period earlier this year and Martin highlighted his ability in the saddle.
"He rode some smashing races on difficult horses for me. I particularly remember him settling One For The Money beautifully at Tipperary before coming through to win well," Martin said.
"He always was a pleasure to deal with and I will miss him terribly."
Today's meetings at Leopardstown and Clonmel have been called off as a mark of respect and they may be rescheduled for later this week.
Cleary's biggest success came almost 12 months ago when he won the November Handicap at Leopardstown on Bubble N Squeak.
The jockey's girlfriend Maggie Farrell gave birth to a baby boy on Wednesday in the Rotunda Hospital in Dublin.