WITH four winners already this season, I’ve surpassed my previous best. I’m pleased with how things have been going since I turned professional in July of last year. I’d be heavy enough so it’s harder to get the rides. I want to make the most of the chances that come my way. Thankfully, I’ve been able to do so over the last couple of months.

My mother and father always had point-to-pointers and trained horses. There were always horses around at home when I was growing up. Before I could even walk, I knew all about horses. Not long after, I was sitting up on ponies for the first time. I started riding out at home when I was still very young.

My father initially had the training licence but after it lapsed he didn’t renew it. After it expired, my mother, Debbie, went and did the trainers’ course. She has had a couple of winners on the flat this season with A Pretty Penny.

In my early teens, I rode out at home and for my uncle Ray. At 16, I left school and took out an amateur licence.

On the run up to that, I had been riding out for Joseph O’Brien on weekends and holidays. I rode in a couple of bumpers and point-to-points before my first racecourse winner came on Quaresome for Kieran Purcell at Roscommon in September 2022.

I was also going into Kieran a morning a week by that time. It was great to get the first win on Quaresome because we had broken the horse at home and I knew him well. I was slow enough to get going with the point-to-points.

Most of the people I rode out for trained horses for the track, so there weren’t that many opportunities.

Point-to-point breakthrough

Hitak gave me a first point-to-point winner when successful for Ellmarie Holden at Tattersalls in December 2023. He followed up next time and was to provide me with my only two winners in points. The following season, I rode two winners on the track. Mountain Port won over hurdles for Kieran Purcell at Tramore in August (2024) and Moon Eclipse won a bumper at Leopardstown for Joseph O’Brien the following March. In July of last year, I turned professional. That same month, I rode War Correspondent to win a beginners’ chase at Wexford for Ray [Cody]. That was my first winner as a professional and I was delighted that it came for my uncle.

At the moment, I am based with Ray three mornings a week. I continue to ride out for Joseph O’Brien a further three mornings and go into Kieran Purcell as many evenings as I can. Over the winter months and into the spring, I built up a good association with Eoin Doyle. That was really paid off in recent months. I rode Corway to win a bumper at Downpatrick for Eoin in June and the following month Imarajan was successful for us at Kilbeggan. With both Harpy Eagle and Game Point also winning for Ray of late, I’ve been enjoying a really good couple of months. Hopefully I can press on now for the rest of the season and ride as many winners as I can.

I’m happy with the way things are going right now. I know that given my weight I am limited to the horses that I can ride. As a result, I’m never going to ride a huge amount every season, so that in turn, makes hitting a high number of winners more difficult.

Ambitions

I’m just going to put my head down and make the most of what comes my way. If I can stay injury-free and build up further contacts, hopefully I might even hit on a nice horse one day. It would be great to ride at some of the bigger meetings and to ride a winner at one of those would be extra special.

Both my mam and dad have always been hugely supportive. From the minute I could ride, if I ever wanted a pony they would always do what they could. My uncle Ray has been there for me throughout. Since I started riding, he has given me plenty of opportunities. I’m delighted to have been able to repay some of that loyalty of late. Joseph O’Brien and Kieran Purcell have been very good to me since I started riding out for them.

Eoin Doyle has also been a big supporter in more recent times. I am fortunate to have the backing of so many good people.

Paddy Cody was in conversation with John O’Riordan