RODE my first Galway Festival winner on Gomez Addams in the bumper on Monday evening.

It was an unbelievable experience. Just to hear the roar of the crowd as we pulled clear up the hill was class. With there only being so many races open to amateurs during that week, I am very fortunate to be involved and riding some nice horses with chances.

My auntie is married to Andy Slattery. Growing up, I would obviously have been aware of that connection, and that he trained horses. However, at the same time, I wouldn’t have known a whole pile else about racing.

That all changed when I was 12. Andy had just built a new barn and my father went over to plaster it for him. I went along to give a hand and I never left after that! Having been fascinated watching the horses on the gallops, I asked Andy for a summer job.

The very first morning I started in the yard, Brian (Slattery) put me up on a quiet horse, Eachan, and ran beside me while we trotted up the road. I had never sat on a horse of any description before that in my life.

I would have been mucking out and doing general jobs around the place. Then, Dusty the pony came along and I learned how to ride.

Once I was able, I would have ridden every weekend and most mornings before school.

First racehorse

Meandt was the first racehorse that I rode out on my own. I remember one Sunday morning, asking the lads if I could give her a couple of rounds of the gallops.

From then on, I progressed to riding lots out alongside the lads in the yard. I would have been 13 at the time. Andrew (Slattery) and Ben (Coen) had just moved on to riding on the track when I started pony racing.

I did two years of that, having 20-odd rides. Unlike the two lads, it was always going to be National Hunt racing for me. I was too heavy to ever have considered a career on the Flat.

When I was 16, I got my amateur licence and, shortly after, had my first ride on Sharjah at Dundalk. He was a great servant to the yard, winning nine times on the all-weather. He gave me a great spin and we went so close, beaten just a nose Jerandme.

I was still in school at the time. Aside from one spin in a bumper, I didn’t have a ride for a while after that. My next opportunity actually came at that year’s (2020) Galway Festival, when I finished eighth in the Amateur Riders’ Handicap on Dalileo for Johnny Murtagh.

The new point-to-point season started shortly after and I had my first ride in September. In May 2021, I rode my winner, when Dr Shirocco won for Andy at Stradbally.

Although I was still in school at that stage, I had finished by the time Next Week gave me a first winner on the track at Killarney in August 2022. That one was unbelievable to get, especially after taking a bit of time.

Gomez Addams and Adam Ryan won the Monami Construction Flat Race for owner breeder Pat Morrissey and Andy Slattery \ Healy Racing

It had been over two years since that first ride on Sharjah at Dundalk. For that reason, it was as much a sense of relief as anything else.

Next Week won on the Friday and, as luck would have it, I rode my second winner on my very next ride on the Monday. Royal Creek, a mare I had ridden work on all summer, won for Edmond Kent in Ballinrobe.

After riding three more winners for Andy and one for Michael McDonagh, I ended the season with six.

Under rules

Over the last couple of years, I’ve mixed it between the track and riding in point-to-points. Up to now, I’ve ridden 28 winners under rules and a further 16 in point-to-points.

I’ve been lucky enough to ride some really nice four-year-olds to win their maiden. Will The Wyse, who has gone on to do well under rules for Gavin Cromwell, stands out.

A couple of seasons back, I finished with eight winners on the track. Two of those were in England. I went over to Neil Mulholland for a week and was lucky enough to win on two of the four horses he put me up on.

The highlight was undoubtedly Ike Sport winning at Sandown on Bet365 Gold Cup day. It was also the day that Willie Mullins was crowned champion trainer in Britain for the first time.

Just being involved and riding a winner on such a big occasion was brilliant.

Galway winner Gomez Addams was my ninth of the season, so I have already bettered by previous best tally by one.

Between bumper horses and young point-to-point horses, Andy has a brilliant bunch at the moment. I am very thankful to himself, Brian and all the lads that have supported me. I realise how fortunate I am to be riding such nice horses.

Best horses

At meetings like Galway, where there are very few races for amateur jockeys, competition is strong. With the best horses that are in training at that particular time of the year all aimed at the festival, winners aren’t easily come by.

Not only has Andy put me up on the stable’s leading bumper horses, he has shown great loyalty in giving me opportunities in bigger races.

I am very thankful to both himself and the O’Rourke’s for allowing me ride Royal Hollow in the Galway Hurdle. It was a fantastic ride for a 5lb-claimer to get in a race of that calibre.

Andy’s yard provides such a good grounding. The lads have been absolutely brilliant.

They go through each race with you, telling you what you did right or wrong and how to improve.

If you do make a mistake, they are behind you. I think it definitely gives you confidence.

I’ve had a lot of support from so many other trainers and owners; I’d like to thank each of them. Without that support and loyalty, I wouldn’t be in the position that I am.

Adam was in conversation with John O’Riordan