CHARLIE Swan, Ruby Walsh, Tony McCoy, Paul Carberry, Davy Russell and Paul Townend are among the finest riders of the modern era to have completed a Galway Plate-Galway Hurdle double,. But - at the tender age of 21 last month - Dan King achieved something that none of those legendary figures managed to do.

Not since Joe Byrne in 1984 had any rider plundered both of Ballybrit’s biggest prizes in the same year. That was until King took the western highlights by storm with a 230/1 double, through King Alexander in the Plate and a tuned-to-the-minute Putapoundinthejar in the Hurdle.

The rising young star has been making noticeable strides in the weighing room ranks through the past two seasons, but picking up two €270,000 pots in consecutive days has driven his stock to new levels.

Some would have felt that Putapoundinthejar’s trainer Tony Martin had already thrown down a serious gauntlet when publicly stating that he “hadn’t seen anything as good since the likes of Ruby Walsh” when it comes to King’s talents. Yet, the man from Kilbrin, Co Cork has continued to let his riding do the talking at Galway.

Two weeks have passed since the famous brace and he is still feeling the reception to those marquee wins. This week marks just four years since his very first winner over jumps at Ballinrobe - a short but significant rise to prominence.

“I don’t really know how to describe it, to be honest with you,” King says of the past fortnight.

“Even as time goes on, people keep coming up to say ‘well done’. I was riding at Ballinrobe on Monday night and the parade ring MC was still talking about it. I find it hard to describe how I’m feeling but it’s all very nice. It’s great to feel that support. I know the week I had at Galway was great, but, at the same time, I have to step back and treat every race one at a time. I have to keep doing the same things I always do and take each day as it comes.”

Even before his coming-of-age week in Ballybrit, the previous month had the sense of a coming-of-age season for King.

Sizzling July

Willie Mullins described him as a man “on fire” in the month of July when partnering a total of 13 winners from 55 rides - a standout 24% strike rate and profit of €66.23 if putting €1 on each of his mounts.

Another winner at Ballinrobe on Monday evening has put the pony racing graduate in second place in the early Irish National Hunt Jockeys’ Championship standings on 18 winners (six behind the leader, Darragh O’Keeffe, and five ahead of the third-placed Philip Enright prior to Friday’s Tramore action).

“I know that if I didn’t have the two big winners at Galway, I’d still be having a very good season,” King says.

“To have 18 winners on the board is a tremendous start for the season and hopefully it can continue. I want to keep it going. I’m very lucky with the people I ride for. I have great support and I can’t thank them enough.

“I go to John Ryan’s one or two days a week, usually a Monday and Friday. I try to go to Willie Mullins on a Tuesday and Thursday if I can. I go to Tony Martin on a Wednesday and I try to do a day with Mark Molloy as well. I’m lucky that I can spread myself about. I think you need to because it’s a tough auld game. I obviously ride work for the people who want me as well and plenty of trainers have been good to me.

“Garry Cribbin, my agent, is good to get me outside rides and I know it helps when you’re riding winners. I’m not tied down to anyone as such. With the trainers I do ride for, they’re very understanding if I have to go one way or another for different yards on certain days.”

In some ways, King’s growing status in the National Hunt game bucks the assumption made by many that being predominantly backed by a powerhouse yard is essential to making a meaningful impact in the modern era. Entering this week, he had ridden winners for 11 different stables so far in the 2026/’27 campaign and taken mounts for 36 individual yards over jumps. Casting his net wide demonstrates there is certainly more than one way to progress.

“Definitely. I think there are lots of jockeys out there who make it in different ways,” King explains.

“There are always going to be challenges in this game but you have to take every day as it comes and work away. I’d look at someone like Phillip Enright as a jockey who rides for lots of trainers and owners, gets a load of winners every season and has plenty of rides. Once you’re busy riding, and winners follow, I think that’s the main thing to making a go of it. I’m in the situation where I feel lucky to be able to spread myself about.

Making progress

“I suppose when I did lose my claim, there was a phase where I went quiet enough. But that does happen to a lot of people when losing your claim. You just have to keep your head down in those moments and keep working until it turns again. I’m not claiming for a while now but I got into some nice yards and have good backing behind me.

“Confidence is a big thing too. Riding for trainers that fill you with confidence puts you in a good frame of mind going out there to ride a lot better. Ever since I’ve started, I’ve had great people in my corner. My brother Connor obviously rode before and is great for advice. I’d be a believer that you need people like that in your life.”

The role of Connor King in his brother’s breakout season of 2025/’26 was never better evidenced than in their sibling link-up with high-class staying chaser Oscars Brother last term.

After registering a first non-handicap blacktype winner aboard the family horse in a listed novice hurdle at Cork the previous season, the King brothers embarked on a sublime journey when following up Grade 2 Florida Pearl Novice Chase victory with a Grade 2 Ten Up Novice Chase strike in the colours of J.P. McManus. It was quite the vote of confidence when the younger sibling was given the green light to keep the ride for the champion owner when Oscars Brother finished fourth in the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham and unseating at the Chair in the Grand National at Aintree.

“Oscars Brother has been massively important for me,” says the in-form rider.

“You need a horse like him when you’re starting off to get your name out there and he’s just been class. It was great for Connor as well, training-wise, to come across one like him so early. He gave me some great days. I won two Grade 2s on him, and I was so lucky to keep the ride on him when Mr McManus bought him. Getting to ride him at Cheltenham, Aintree and then Punchestown [when fifth in Grade 1 company] was a massive opportunity. Those days are what get you going as a rider.”

On his brother’s talents as a handler, Dan adds: “Like myself, I think Connor is just really adamant on doing the best thing for the horse all the time. He rode for a number of years and was in several good yards. I have no doubt he’d have been taking note of different things in all those places and building experience all the time.

Talented horseman

“As a trainer, starting with a small bunch of horses like he has means he can do everything the way he wants with them. He can give them the time they need. Hopefully in time he’ll get bigger, though, and I’d imagine he’d love to, even if he’s quite happy for the moment. To be honest, he did all the work with those horses last year. I was just turning up to school them when he needed me. He’s done a great job.”

To listen to King to tell it, there was never any doubt that he would end up pursuing this pathway as a rider. That long-held ambition clearly makes moments like a fortnight ago all the more appreciated.

“From as young as I can remember, this is all I’ve ever wanted,” he beams.

“I know I’m very fortunate to be doing this now. I was only thinking back the other day, if someone had told me the week before Galway that I’d get two of the biggest pots over jumps, there’s no way I would have believed you. It is hard to believe. When riding has always been what I wanted to do, I know those days are so special.

“No matter what the grade is, everyone wants to have winners at Galway and it’s so competitive everywhere you look. There was a good mixture of trainers and jockeys riding winners on the week and that’s what you like to see.”

Stepping into the parade ring before one of the season’s highest-profile handicaps to ride for the record-breaking champion trainer is another realisation of childhood dreams.

“It’s just class. Willie’s record as a trainer speaks for itself, he’s the best around. I’ve been watching Willie win big races all my life, so riding for him in any race - let alone a Galway Plate - is an amazing feeling.

“From as soon as I started riding out [at Closutton], I’ve loved it. I love riding out good horses and the people working there are so nice.

“The jockeys, the likes of Paul [Townend] and Brian [Hayes], are so helpful to someone coming in like me. You need fellas like that to help you progress in your career and I’m very appreciative of that.”

Sliding doors moment

King showed the rapid decision-making of someone many years his senior when making a key call to switch around the back-pedalling Solness after the second last flight in the Galway Hurdle. Had he taken the alternative route, there’s every probability that he wouldn’t be the first rider in 42 years to complete the famous double.

“I had been down the rail the whole way and said I’d take a chance,” King says of the crucial manoeuvre on Putapoundinthejar.

“From the moment I jumped off, everything went smoothly - and that’s what you need for those big handicaps. I suppose it’s like when your luck is in, gaps can open up for you, and my luck was in.

“Now, at the same time, you need the horse to go through the gaps and I had the horse underneath me that meant the gap wouldn’t close on me. He went through it in a matter of strides and Tony had him in brilliant shape for it.

“Tony has won the Galway Hurdle five times now, and that’s an incredible achievement. He knows how to get a horse ready and is a very nice man to ride for. When he’s been so good to me with opportunities, I was delighted to ride a big winner for him like that.”

In the aftermath of King’s other promising Galway Festival winner, Frankie John in a competitive two-mile-two-furlong beginners’ chase, trainer Denis Hogan was singing the young rider’s praises, hailing him as “one of the best riders in the weighing room”. Hogan added: “I thought one of the big yards would have snapped him up by now. I think he’ll end up there.”

Former Grade 1-winning rider Paddy Flood, speaking in his IrishRacing.com media role, has also voiced his belief that King “is so good that we could lose him to England because all the big jobs are filled here,” adding: “He deserves a big job - he would walk into a major role anywhere.”

When asked about the possibility of being drawn to other opportunities, King appears completely cool-headed about his future and content with remaining focused on further carving out his current niche. Little meaningful oxygen is being given to the possibility of changing the approach that has served him so well to this point.

“It’s not that I wouldn’t go to England, but I’m quite happy where I am and I hope I can make a career here in Ireland,” he says, matter-of-factly.

“I’ve said it to a few people, but my main aim as a jockey is to ride as many winners as I can, get my name out there. Once I’m riding every day, I’ll be happy. I want to keep that going.

“With a view to the rest of the season, I had 34 winners last year and I’d love to beat that. Whatever comes after that is a bonus. Hopefully I can keep getting my name out there and do my best for the people supporting me.”

Achieving something that eluded modern greats like Swan, Walsh, McCoy, Carberry, Russell and Townend is one way to put your name up in lights. It has been a statement summer for King.

Anyone who didn’t know his talents was given quite the introduction over two glorious afternoons at Galway.

How he enjoys his downtime outside of racing

“I really don’t do a whole pile other than riding out or riding in races - you wouldn’t have much time at the end of it all! I used to play a bit of GAA but my brothers Connor and Rory still play a bit of hurling and football. If they have a match, I try to go along and watch.”

The biggest influences on his riding

“Obviously the likes of Ruby Walsh would be an obvious person you’d look up to, but I used to love watching Davy Russell growing up. I loved how Davy rode. He could be quiet, switch a horse off and still be very strong when he needed to be. I want to improve every day that I’m riding and looking up at those big lads is something I’ve always done. Davy was just class to watch.”

Continuing to ride on the flat as a National Hunt jockey

“I’m lucky enough that I am quite light and can still ride on the flat with some of the heavier weights. I started off there and I do think it helps tidy up your style to still ride there. We ride a lot tighter on the flat and I think it has to be a help. It’s stood to me and I enjoy it. Whenever the chance comes up, I’m happy to keep both angles open.”

Hopes for Galway winner Frankie John

“He was very good in his own right too when winning a beginners’ chase. He warmed into his jumping quite well and obviously brought good hurdles form to chasing. We always hoped he’d make a better chaser than hurdler, so fingers crossed he can keep doing things right down this road. It’s nice for Denis to have one like him. I actually started my career on the flat and over jumps with Denis; I was there for about five years and he gave me my first flat winner with Malbas. Hopefully he’s a lucky horse for him over fences.”