Top amateur turns profession Leading amateur jockey Robbie McNamara has turned professional and has his first rides in the paid ranks this weekend. Among the 26 year old's big winners, from 148 winners as an amateur, are two wins at last March's Cheltenham Festival (Silver Concorde in the Bumper and Spring Heeled in the Kim Muir Chase) while he has also won the Punchestown Champion Bumper, Galway Amateur Handicap (twice) and the Leopardstown's Paddy Power Chase. McNamara said "I'll be able to ride at 11st7lbs most days and, at a stretch, can do 11st4lbs. I've a few rides lined up for the weekend but am on the look out for more and Alan Donoghue is my agent."
