RIDING a Cheltenham winner on Ask Brewster on my first ever ride in England was just surreal. I don’t know how I feel to be honest. It was all a bit of a blur at the time and, even now, it still hasn’t really sunk in. When I got the call from Evan Williams to ride in the Kim Muir, I was just delighted to be involved and have a spin on the day. After going through the form, I started to realise that Ask Brewster had a real chance and, thankfully that’s how it worked out.

We would always have kept broodmares at home. I grew up with my cousin Julian Pietropaolo. He is an apprentice on the flat and, has been doing very well since switching from pony racing. We would have started hunting together with the local Conna Harriers when we were still in primary school. I then went down to Eudora O’Connor in Tallow at weekends.

She keeps breakers and I learned plenty from her during the time I was there. After that, I started riding out for Batty O’Connell at home in Ballynoe. He would only have had about seven or eight point-to-point horses but it was my first experience of working in a racing yard. I gained great experience during those three years, getting to school horses both at home and in Boulta.

I left school at 16 and came up to Denis Murphy in Wexford. I’ve been here ever since. Denis has always been a loyal supporter and I have a lot to thank him for. I had my first point-to-point ride in October 2023 and, rode my first winner on Special Prep for Billy Codd at Lingstown that same season. I actually ended up getting 15 winners overall and finished up as champion under-21 rider.

Trainer’s trust

In fairness to Denis, he rang David Christie asking him if he needed a novice rider. I hadn’t ridden many winners at that stage but both men put their trust in me. I rode six winners for David by the end of the season, including two-from-two on Winged Leader.

Unfortunately, I broke my leg the following year and ended up missing most of autumn 2024. I rode plenty of horses when I got back going again but they just weren’t that good.

Again, Denis Murphy kept faith in me throughout that difficult time. In 2025, my second full season riding point-to-points, I had four winners. I’ve already doubled that tally this time round, riding seven winners for Denis Murphy and one for Grace Kelly. She rides out for Denis in the mornings before doing her own horses after.

Last May, I had my first winner under rules when Dundaniel won a hunter chase at Killarney for Michael Barry. I don’t really ride out for anyone that has horses for the track and spares are hard to come by. In my case, opportunities are limited. I would have only had about 20 rides on the racecourse before last week.

In fairness to Barry Stone, he rang to let me know that Evan Williams was looking for someone to ride for him in the Kim Muir. Barry put my name forward and Evan rang me a short while after. I took the chance with both hands. When you get the opportunity to ride at the Cheltenham Festival, you don’t need to be asked twice!

Cheltenham winner

I went through Ask Brewster’s form and saw that he was at his best on good ground. He had won three times earlier in the season but disappointed on easier going back in December.

To be fair to Evan, he just told me not to panic but to go out and enjoy the whole experience. The plan had been to race handy, jumping off in the first seven or eight.

When no one else went on, I was quite happy to make it. I had watched replays of all the horse’s races and saw that he loved being out in front.

I gave him a squeeze three out and he came back on the bridle. I knew that he had a good chance after that. To be fair to the horse, when Patrick Mullins came to me on Road To Home, he battled on well up the hill.

It was an incredible experience when he held on to win. All of my family had come over for the day and it made it all the better having them there. In jump racing, it doesn’t get any bigger than the Cheltenham Festival.

Hopefully the win last week will help push my career forward and open more doors. I’m quite happy remaining an amateur and riding in point-to-points for now at least.

It would be great to get more rides on the track though, in bumpers and races restricted to qualified riders. A lot of people wouldn’t have known very much about me before last Thursday but I’d be hoping that the win on Ask Brewster will change that.

Shane was in conversation with John O’Riordan.