WHEN I was young, Dad was head lad to Gerry Keane. I was always in around the yard with him. I remember watching Colin (Keane) going pony racing one day and thinking, ‘I’d love to do that myself.’

I always have looked up to Colin, as he was doing what I wanted to do. He was the first person who really inspired me.

Dad always have had us up on ponies at home. He got a little pony and said that I could go pony racing with her. I was still very light at that time though. A few years after, he got more in for me and I got great experience pony racing.

At 15, I got a bad fall pony racing which resulted in a bleed to the brain. Fortunately, it wasn’t as serious as it sounds and I was back at it as soon as possible. I had started riding out for Ger Lyons by that time. Dad had known Ger for years and he got me in there.

It was a great experience. Ger taught me loads and I rode plenty good horses’ work. He was a great man to work for.

A year later, I went to Pat Martin and took out my apprentice licence. Although the main focus that year was the Leaving Certificate, I did manage to get a few rides on the track.

Good move

Again, Pat was really good to me and he got me started as a jockey. After finishing school, I had a chat at Dundalk one night with my jockey coach, Niall McCullagh.

He suggested that it would be a good move to come down to Johnny Murtagh. Once Niall put that idea in my head, I couldn’t wait to get down to the Curragh.

I had only been with Johnny a few weeks when he put me up on Daamberdiplomat at Dundalk (December 2023). That was my first ride for the stable and it also proved to be my first winner. I really got going then the following season and ended up with 16 winners.

Once I lost my 10Ib claim, Denis Linehan became my agent. He does an excellent job and is a huge part of my success. He was a very good rider himself and is great to offer advice.

I made another solid start last year and rode a winner every other week at Dundalk. I kept that momentum up into the spring but then suffered a fall at home and fractured my fibula. When I came back things were slow to get going for a time.

Cuban Grey came along at the right time and I won three races on him last year. Two of those wins came at the Curragh. I rode Rahmi to win the Sovereign Path Handicap at Leopardstown on Champions Weekend. That was unbelievable. We all want to ride winners at those big meetings. That’s what we are doing this job for.

Loyal supporter

What made it extra special was that it was for Johnny Murtagh. He has been such a loyal supporter since I moved down to work for him. He has seen and done it all as a jockey and I am fortunate to be able to go to him for help and advice.

I rode a winner for Dad on Wrecking Ball Paul as well. Both himself and my mam have always been so good to me. My brother Ben led up that winner, so it was a day I’ll never forget.

I won a premier handicap on Ciaran Murphy’s Titanium at the Curragh on the final day of last season. After the injury setback mid-season, I ended up having a decent enough campaign and rode some good winners.

When the season finished, I went out to Robert Griffiths in Australia for a couple of months. As I hadn’t ridden 40 winners, I wasn’t able to get an international licence to ride on the track. However, it was still a great learning curve as I got to ride plenty of trackwork.

They do all their work against the clock out there and you learn so much in terms of judging pace. I know that the experience really stood to me.

After coming home in January, I was straight back racing at Dundalk. I had a few winners during the winter season and have carried that momentum into the turf.

I’ve been lucky enough to ride plenty of nice winners already this term. Winning the Apprentice Derby at the Curragh on Darius Dark for Johnny meant a lot. Again, those are the races that you want to be involved in and winning.

Last year, I rode a winner for the Aga Khan. Getting to wear those famous silks was amazing and again thanks to Johnny for having faith in me.

Main aim

I’d love to be champion apprentice this season and that would be the main aim. I’m currently lying second in the table so I’m determined to give it a good shot. Hopefully, if I can stay injury-free and continue to pick up plenty of outside rides, I should have every chance.

Denis has been doing an unbelievable job getting me on horses from other yards, while Johnny has been giving me every opportunity.

John O’Donoghue has provided a few winners as well this season and I’m very thankful for that. Although I am in Johnny’s six days a week, I’ve rode work for John the odd time and he has been very supportive.

Hopefully, if I can keep the current run of form going into the second half of the season, I can be a contender for champion apprentice.

Rory was in conversation with John O’Riordan