DAD always had an auld driving horse at home [in Dingle, Co Kerry]. Around the age of four or five, I started riding the driving horse around the paddock he lived in. A year of two after, dad bought me my first pony. Jack and Paddy Kennedy would have grown up just a couple of hundred yards from my home place. Jack had started pony racing at the time, so I ended up riding out with them; giving them a hand with the ponies. After I got going, my father bought me a bigger pony. I began hunting with the North Kerry Harriers. Then when I was 13, he bought me a horse to go flapping with.

I was flapping the season before Covid. I had one winner just before Christmas. Shortly after, Covid hit and, that put an end to my flapping career. When the early restrictions were lifted, I spent three weeks riding out for Tom Cooper in Tralee. I rode out every morning. It was the first time that I had ever worked in a proper racing yard. I came up to the Kennedys’ place in Monasterevin that same summer. Jack and Paddy had bought their own breaking and pre-training yard, so asked if I’d like to ride out for a week. The Kennedy family have always been very supportive of me and, I am very thankful to them. After I came home, I tipped around with half-breds, cobs and hunters. I was always buying and selling a few horses. At 16, I left school and, joined Sam Curling in Tipperary.

I was with Sam for a year and a half. During that time, I took out my amateur licence. I had 14 rides in point-to-points and, one in a bumper. He was very good to me and, I appreciate the opportunities I got from Sam. Last summer, I took a couple of weeks holidays. During that time, a job came up in Mark Fahey’s. I came up to Mark in August of last year as a conditional jockey.

First winner

Just six weeks into the job, Mark put me up on Mellem in a bumper at the Harvest Festival in Listowel. It was mighty to get to ride at one of my local Kerry tracks. The horse ran respectably too, so it was a great day.

I had another six rides for Mark before my first winner came. That was on Kp’s Ladyofknock at Clonmel in December of last year. Mom and Dad, and the whole family, had traveled up from Dingle, so it was super to have them all there. My family have supported me all along the way, so I was delighted that they managed to get to Clonmel on the day.

Since then, I’ve had another eight or 10 rides. It’s been all about getting experience. I’m still getting experience. I rode Bigira to finish second at Kilbeggan in the middle of last month. Earlier this month, I was given the ride on Garnacho at Bellewstown. To be honest, I didn’t realise he was favourite until a few minutes before I went out. The odds for the race came up on the screen in the weigh room. It didn’t make any difference to how I approached the race; I just went out and rode it the same as any other. The horse traveled very well. He jumped really well and got to the lead three out. From there he kept at it, carrying me home strongly. I got as much of a buzz out of riding that second winner as I did my first. There was such a long gap between the two, that only made me appreciate it all the more.

Over the next few months, I hope to ride as much as I can. Get as much experience as possible and, just see where that takes me. I ride out for Mark six mornings a week. He has been very good to me since I came up. I’m grateful to Mark and, all his owners, for the support and loyalty they have shown. In the afternoons, I go to Jack and Paddy to help with the breakers and pre-trainers. I am there six days a week also. From the very start, the Kennedys have helped my career, so I’m delighted to still be very much involved with them.

Tom was in conversation with John O’Riordan.