DAD started training in 2007, the year I was born. Our family home is on the yard, so I was always around horses from as early as I can remember.

From day one, it was always horses for me. I never really bothered too much with any other sports. There is a photo of me at home on a horse when I was very young. I couldn’t have been any more than two or three.

I learned how to ride at home. I did a bit at Warrington Equestrian Centre after that. Rachael Blackmore and Brian Hayes rode out for Dad when I was about seven or eight. I sat up on a couple of the quiet ones on the gallops.

I never did any show jumping or anything like that. Not even hunting. I was in the yard all the time. I had been due to start pony racing before Covid hit but, after the outbreak, the season was cancelled. It was 2022 before I finally got the chance.

That ended up being a great year for us as a family. Dad trained Hewick to win the Galway Plate and I rode The Auld House to win the Dingle Derby.

It was the only year I got to have a crack at Dingle. It’s the biggest weekend on the pony racing circuit and I was lucky enough to ride four winners that year. I had a treble on Derby day.

In all, I ended up with 45 winners pony racing. I rode a good bit in Scotland too and was champion flapping jockey over there at 15.

The following year, I got out my amateur licence. It didn’t come through until the morning I was due to have my first ride, so it was all a bit of a panic.

First winner

A week later, I rode my first winner on the racecourse. Chef D’Etat won a bumper at Worcester. My first-ever ride over hurdles was a winner - Mullins Cross at Bangor.

That was special, as not only did Dad train it, but Mam bred it and my grandad [the late Ronnie O’Neill of Whytemount Stud] stood the stallion.

Being only 16 at the time, I wasn’t allowed ride over jumps in Ireland, but the rules are different in the UK. I went over to work for trainer Charlie Poste in England. I got a point-to-point licence and did a lot of schooling, as well as riding in points. I picked up plenty of experience and Charlie was very good to me.

Two days after my 17th birthday, I turned conditional. On my third day riding under that licence, I rode a double in Limerick. I finished off with nine winners in Ireland that season and another two in Britain. Dad provided the majority of those, but I picked up some outside rides as well. I rode winners for both Ray Cody and Harry Smyth. My agent Garry Cribben did a great job getting me on horses from other yards.

Moved to England

Last season, I had seven winners in Ireland before I moved over to Nicky Henderson in October. The previous month, I rode Cloonainra to win at the Listowel Festival for trainer John McConnell.

I was with Nicky Henderson until February of this year, when I joined Paul Nicholls. I am based full-time with him. When I was with Nicky, I rode out for Syd Hosie one day a week. Since moving to Paul, I continue to do this. Syd has been really good to me and I’ve ridden a nice few winners for him. Of the nine I rode in Britain last season, he trained five.

I’ve already ridden four winners in Britain this season - three for Dad and one for Paul Nicholls. He has been very good to me since I started with him.

Everyone knows that he is a top class trainer, who has had some legends through his hands. When you are working in the yard every day, you can understand why he does so well. I am only there a short time, but he has been very good to me. I rode a winner for him at Plumpton in April, not long after I started in the yard. It was great to get another one at Newton Abbot last month.

Every jockey wants to be champion conditional or champion jockey. I had 16 winners last season. I’ve made a good start to the summer racing in the UK, so hopefully I can keep that momentum going over the coming months. I just want to ride as many winners as I can, build up more contacts and stay free of injury.

Open morning

Next Saturday (August 15th), we have our open morning at Shark Hanlon Racing in Bagenalstown.

This year is extra special, as it also marks the retirement of our stable star Hewick. He was bought as a two-year-old and came into training the following year. I was only 11 at the time, so I more or less grew up with the horse.

I sat on him every day at home. After he won his beginners’ chase in Clonmel, he was mine from then on. I did all the work and schooling on him. I led him up when he won the King George. I also travelled to Cheltenham and Aintree with him.

As everyone knows, he was the horse of a lifetime; winning 12 races, including the American Grand National. Towards the end of his career and the start of mine, I was lucky enough to win twice on Hewick.

I also got to ride him at Cheltenham, Aintree and Punchestown.

For an 18-year-old to be riding at those meetings was the stuff of dreams and he helped make it reality. I also got to ride Hewick on his final start when third at Cork recently.

There are already in excess of 1,500 people signed up for the open day.

We have fans of Hewick travelling from Scotland, England, Wales and even a few from America.

He was that type of horse, who captured the public’s attention.

As well as an opportunity to see Hewick, anyone attending will get the chance to watch horses on the gallops and to view our yard and facilities.

Paddy was in conversation with John O’Riordan. The open day starts at 10.30am next Saturday, August 15th.

Register: sharkhanlonracing.ie