THE current National Hunt season, which comes to a close at Punchestown on Saturday, has been my best to date. I’ve had 17 winners, lost my claim and, ended the Listowel Festival as leading jockey. After riding winners on consecutive weekends earlier this month, I wish there was a bit more left in the season.

Hopefully, I can improve on that personal best next year and, maybe, stumble across a nice horse that can take me to the next level.

My father would have been into hunting, so I started off with him. I would only have been around six when I went out with the Duhallows. We later hunted with the Old Mill Foxhounds.

From the age of eight, I did a bit of pony racing. I rode a couple of winners but I would have been heavy enough at the time. After finishing school, I went to RACE. I really enjoyed it up there. I was sent out to Dessie Hughes. I would have ridden out with Mark Enright in Micky Lee’s when we were kids, so we ended up sharing a house during our time with Dessie.

At 17, I took out my licence. I was with Dessie Hughes for three and a half years. Right up to the time he passed away. He was a great man to work for. I got plenty of rides and, loads of opportunities. I never rode a winner during that time though. I spent a season in the UK with Harry Fry after that but found that it just wasn’t for me.

Good grounding

Having ridden as a conditional in the UK, I went back amateur after coming home. I spent the best part of two seasons point-to-pointing. It was a massive help and, I credit it with turning around my career. I rode for some great people and received a great grounding. You really learn how to ride a horse in those four and five-year-old maidens.

Without the same spotlight as riding under rules, you can progress steadily without that added pressure. I rode out and schooled a lot of horses for Ciaran Fennessy. He was very good to me and introduced me to a lot of people. I rode a first ever winner on Stung For Cash for Eugene O’Sullivan at Kildorrey in February 2018. I rode two more winners that season and, two the next.

Towards the end of that 2018/19 season, I rode my first winner under rules on Sand Fly at Listowel for Paddy Neville. I had been riding out for both Paddy and Eoin McCarthy by that stage. The following March, I rode my first winner as a conditional jockey on Pound A Stroke at Clonmel. Eoin, who trained that horse, really rolled in behind me and backed me the whole way.

It was great to have that support starting out and we have enjoyed plenty of success together over the years. A lot of those, we have broken and brought along slowly ourselves, so there is definitely a great kick when they win races. I get real satisfaction from breaking horses and it’s what I want to do full-time when I eventually retire from riding.

Biggest winner

I am based with Eoin four mornings a week. I go into Eric McNamara another two mornings and ride out for Colm Ryan in the afternoons. I school horses and ride work for anyone else that wants me in between. Aside from Eoin, I’m very grateful to all the trainers that use me.

My biggest winner so far came on Walnut Beach for Pat Flynn in a listed handicap chase in Killarney. That was one that I got a great kick out of. Being leading jockey at last year’s Listowel Festival was something I’ll always remember. Eoin was leading trainer for the week as well. I also managed to pick up the award for ride of the week and was placed in the Kerry National.

It was without doubt my best ever week in racing. In January, I rode out my claim when Kilbrin Rocco won at Clonmel. So, my first winner as a professional jockey and last with a claim, both came at Clonmel, on horses trained by Eoin. Since then, the latter part of the season has gone really well and I’m delighted to have reached a personal best.

I’ve ridden a few horses on the flat in recent times as well. My weight is fairly good and I might as well do it now that I can. I’m really enjoying it but jumps will always be my first preference.

Looking towards next season, the aim as always would be to improve on the previous one and stay free of injury. Aside from the trainers I ride for, I’m very lucky to have some great people behind me. My agent Gary Cribbin does unbelievable work, while my sponsors Fitall Shopfitters are very supportive.

Gary was in conversation with John O’Riordan.