NEWMARKET, ENGLAND – MAY 03: Aidan O’Brien poses at Newmarket Racecourse on May 03, 2026 in Newmarket, England. (Photo by Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images) Credit: Getty
AIDAN O’BRIEN has recalled his former Group 1-winning jockey for five major rides alongside Ryan Moore on Saturday.
The Ballydoyle boss has a manic weekend with Irish Champions Festival clashing with the St Leger meeting at Doncaster.
Former Arc de Triomphe-winning jockey Pierre-Charles Boudot has got big rides for Aidan O’Brien on day one of the Irish Champions Festival… after his five-year police investigation was dismissed Credit: PA
Several of O’Brien’s big guns race at Leopardstown on Saturday, including Constitution River in a star-studded Irish Champion Stakes.
But while Moore is his No1, he needs strong back-ups – and that’s why he’s called up Pierre-Charles Boudot.
The former Arc de Triomphe-winning rider – who bagged Group 1s for O’Brien aboard Order of Australia and Mogul – recently had a five-year police investigation dismissed.
Boudot was cleared of all charges relating to allegations of rape made by two women.
He has been plying his trade mostly in France since his return in June.
But Boudot, who has previously been a work rider for O’Brien, heads back to Ireland this weekend.
His first ride comes in the first at 1.35pm aboard Snowing in the 7f Ingabelle Stakes.
Moore is on Darkness Falls in the Group 1 Golden Fleece, Christophe Soumillon Aix La Chapelle and Boudot gets the leg up on Shakespeare.
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Boudot will ride 1,000 Guineas winner True Love in the Matron Stakes, with Moore looking to down favourite Blue Bolt on Precise.
Moore, Soumillon and Boudot each have rides in the Solonaway Stakes, a Group 2 over a mile, with the latter aboard Expanded.
The other two ride Isaac Newton and Charles Fort respectively.
Boudot looks to have the responsibility of the key supporting role in the Champion Stakes, the big race at 5pm.
He’ll be on Hawk Mountain, with Moore on Constitution River and Soumillon jocked up for George Scott’s supplemented Wimbledon Hawkeye.
Boudot always denied any wrongdoing throughout a five-year police probe.
He was arrested on a charge of rape in April 2021 and subsequently had his licence suspended.
The claim related to an alleged incident in February the same year during a meeting at Cagnes-sur-Mer in France.
The complainant’s lawyer Justine Devred told AFP news agency at the time: “It’s highly likely she was made to drink or administered substances to make her incapable of consent.
“She has flashes, long periods, moments when her body was no longer responding.”
Boudot’s lawyer, however, told the same news agency that her client ‘categorically’ denied the accusation, and said that the encounter had been consensual.
After he was acquitted, lawyer Florence Godilliere was quoted as saying: “After five years of investigation, the justice system has finally exonerated Pierre-Charles Boudot.
“A well-reasoned dismissal of the case was handed down today by the Amiens Court of Appeal.
“Having been away from the racetracks for several years, one of the world’s greatest jockeys will finally be able to return to work.
“We have always fought to see his innocence recognised, and this has finally been achieved.”
