Earlier this month, I rode my first winner on the track when Kings Jet won a hunter chase at Down Royal. To be honest, I always knew that I wanted to be a jockey. That had been the plan for as long as I can remember.

My dad was still training in Pollardstown on the Curragh when I was born. Not too long after, we moved to Copper Beech Stables outside Kildare. Myself and my older brother Josh always had ponies when we were younger. We got into pony club and show jumping after that. Mam and Dad were very good to us, taking us all over the country to different shows and competitions.

Growing up in a racing yard, I was always interested in the racehorses. Every Saturday, our grandfather would take myself and Josh out to watch the horses on the gallops. I don’t have any strong memories of any particular horses from the yard winning races but I do remember looking forward to Friday evening trips to Dundalk with Dad during the winter months.

I mostly concentrated on the show jumping right up until last year. I still do it now but the racing is beginning to take up more of my time. Around 14, I started riding out some of the quieter racehorses for Dad. After I got going, I rode a bit of work on the Curragh for him. I always really loved that. Niall McCullagh and Ronan Whelan were both very good to me. I learned a lot riding work alongside the two of them.

Pony racing

I did pony racing for a couple of seasons from the age of 15. We had a few ponies of our own but I also rode a good bit for Ian Worrell. I rode three winners in all, two in Ireland and one in Scotland. All three winners were for Ian. He was always very good to me while I was flapping. A year later, while still in school, I took out my amateur licence with Dad. I also jumped for Ireland abroad when I was 15 and 16, in two Junior Nations Cups and one Young Rider Nations Cup.

I had a few bumper rides and two or three in point-to-points for Dad, while he was still training. I was with him right up until he finished up. I used to ride out the three-year-olds for Cormac Farrell in the evenings after work. As soon as Dad stopped training, I went straight into Cormac full-time.

He was looking for an amateur who could ride the horses at home and get to know them. I have been there since the end of February. Cormac and his main owner, Douglas Taylor, have been very good to me. I was only in the yard a couple of weeks when I got my first ride. Since then, I have ridden most of their horses, both on the track and in point-to-points. I am very thankful to them for giving me the opportunities.

First winner

Josh, who is about a year ahead of me in terms of race-riding, rode his first winner at Punchestown for Dad and Tracey (Collins). I also rode in that same race. I was delighted for him at the time. To get my own first winner on the track recently was brilliant, especially as it came for Cormac and Douglas.

With Dad no longer training, I was delighted that the winner was for them. Kings Jet was very strong for me. He was flat out the whole way but jumped really well. He took me to the front earlier than I would have liked but I was able to put the race to bed on him. Cormac had filled me with confidence going out to ride him, so I never felt under any real pressure. Dad was on duty at the Curragh, so wasn’t able to make the race but I was delighted that Mam was there. Both of them have always been so supportive of the two of us over the years.

It was nice to be able to give something back after all the work they put in. The plan for the next few years is to just keep riding away, pick up plenty of experience and hopefully add a winner or two along the way.

I’m quite tall so I’m not sure my weight would be good enough to turn conditional. I’m happy to ride away as an amateur for now and just take things as they come. Dad always told me to stay away from training but I know that my future lies somewhere within the industry.

I could see myself maybe getting into buying and selling, as I have a keen interest in bloodstock. For now, however, I want to concentrate on my race-riding and see how far that takes me.

Tommy was in conversation with John O’Riordan.