ALTHOUGH I retired from riding in 2020, I have made a couple of brief returns to the saddle in recent years.

Having failed to get involved in my first attempt at the Leger Legends race at Doncaster last year, I was delighted to ride the winner of this year’s renewal. As competitive as ever, I already have my mind set on defending that title in 2027.

I was born in 1985 and Dad retired from riding four years after. I don’t remember anything about his career other than a memory of us always having had a sauna at home. When Dad started training from my granny and grandad’s place, there would always have been ponies around.

Myself and my sister started off riding the ponies but she gave up very early. I kept at it. I would have done plenty of hunting, cross country and show jumping. I would never have been mad about the show jumping to be honest. I qualified for the RDS one year and I didn’t want to go!

I moved on to riding out some of the quieter racehorses at home and also did half a season flapping. Although I didn’t ride any winners, it was a great experience.

First winner

In November of 2001, I took out my amateur licence while still in school. In July of the following year, I rode my first winner on Teknash at Wexford. That meant a lot as Dad trained the horse which was also owned by my mother. I won on the same horse at the Galway Festival two weeks later.

My first two winners as an amateur came over jumps against professionals. During the summer of 2002, I started going up to Noel Meade. I had ridden a few winners for him at that stage.

When school started back, I continued going up weekends and holidays. I didn’t go to school on a Friday! I would head up to Noel’s on Thursday evening and stay there until Sunday.

Turned professional

I was champion amateur in 2004. To be champion in any division is brilliant. I ended up riding 44 winners that season. Towards the start of the 2005/6 season, I turned professional with Noel. Just before that, I rode Numbersixvalverde to win the Thyestes Chase. As far as I am aware, I am the only jockey to win that race as an amateur.

I had a really good start to my first year as a professional, riding More Rainbows to win the Galway Hurdle. I rode plenty of nice graded and big handicap winners over the next few seasons.

Then in 2006, I enjoyed a career highlight when winning the Aintree Grand National on Numbersixvalverde. That was a particularly good year for me.

In December, I had won the Grade 1 Christmas Hurdle at Kempton on Jazz Messenger for Noel Meade, while the following afternoon, I rode Nickname to win the Grade 1 Dial-A-Bet Chase at Leopardstown for Martin Brassil.

During my career, I was fortunate enough to ride loads of nice horses. Even some of those that I didn’t win on stand out for me.

Harchibald was a real star for Noel Meade when I got to ride him at the Punchestown Festival.

I also rode War Of Attrition in a Hennessy and although we didn’t win, I later won a Galmoy Hurdle on him. I won the Pat Taaffe Handicap Chase at Punchestown on three occasions. Named after my grand uncle and run at my local track, that was one that always meant a lot to win.

I was lucky enough to have a really good career as a jockey and I thoroughly enjoyed it. When I finally decided to retire in December of 2020, I was delighted to be going out on my own terms. I had thought about it over the summer and having discussed it with Aine (O’Connor), I wanted to finish up at Punchestown.

After I rode The Long Mile to win in Limerick for J.P. McManus two days earlier, it did cross my mind to retire there and then. J.P. and the McManus family have been huge supporters of mine throughout the years. I actually rode my third ever winner for him. However, with Punchestown being my home track, I stuck to the initial plan.

Walk away

After retiring I have continued to ride out. Having worked with horses all my life, it wasn’t something to walk away from. I did the breeze-ups with Katie Walsh and worked with RTE as a parade ring coordinator.

During that time, I also started working for the IHRB as a point-to-point steward. When the role came up to become clerk of the course at four Irish tracks, namely Wexford, Tramore, Kilbeggan and Dundalk, I was fortunate enough to get that role.

This is my first year in that job and I am really enjoying it. I’ve learned so much during the first 12 months and will take that with me into next year.

I was delighted to get the call to ride in the Legends race at Doncaster last year. I’d never for one moment consider myself a ‘legend’, so to get the opportunity was brilliant.

Being an ex jockey, I am always looking for the chance to ride again and you certainly never lose that competitive edge. I brought my whole family with me last year and it was a great day. Unfortunately, I could only finish mid division in the race.

Earlier this month, I returned and was lucky enough to win on Tolstoy for Brian Ellison. I got a great buzz from being back in the winner’s enclosure and it was a special day.

Sadly, none of the family were able to make it over this year. Andrew Thornton told me after that I have a lifetime pass after winning the race.

I’d love to go back and hopefully I can return next year.

Niall was in conversation with John O’Riordan.