Jim Bolger

Who is Jim Bolger?

James S. "Jim" Bolger is a thoroughbred racehorse trainer and breeder based in Coolcullen in County Kilkenny. For many years he has been recognised as one of the racing greats in Ireland. Aidan O'Brien, Tony McCoy and Paul Carberry were all apprenticed to him before gaining professional recognition in their own right.

During the 2006 flat season, Bolger trained Teofilo to go unbeaten at the age of two. This five race unbeaten streak included victories in the Group 1 National Stakes and Dewhurst Stakes. Talk of an English Triple Crown bid was imminent but Teofilo suffered a career-ending injury in the lead up to the 2,000 Guineas and never saw a racecourse again. Bolger was criticized for his handling of this situation.

2007 saw another Bolger-bred star emerge in the shape of New Approach. He followed exactly the same path as Teofilo during his two-year-old career and again was unbeaten. In 2008 Bolger informed the public that New Approach would go to Newmarket for the Guineas followed by a trip to the Curragh for the Irish 2,000 Guineas and then on for a tilt at the Irish Derby. New Approach could only finish second in both Guineas, however, behind the Ballydoyle trained Henrythenavigator. It then emerged that at the latest Epsom Derby forfeit stage New Approach's name had been left in by mistake. However, a week later Bolger revealed that his horse would go to Epsom after all, which led to much criticism from punters and bookmakers alike. His decision, however, to run New Approach proved to be the right one when the colt won the English Derby by a half length beating the Sir Michael Stoute trained Tartan Bearer.