MY dad always had an odd point-to-pointer around the place. He also had a few horses in training with John Joe Walsh below in Doneraile and Ciaran Murphy in Charlestown.

A first cousin of mine, Rhona Healy, who is married to Andrew McNamara, brought me into Charlestown. I was only 12 or 13 at the time, but myself and Ciaran got along. I had ridden ponies when I was a bit younger, so I started going in to ride out.

When I was a boarder in Cistercian College in Roscrea, I went down to ride out in John Joe’s at weekends. I had my first point-to-point ride for him on a horse of my dad’s called Thaw Me Toes Out.

I rode my first winner on a horse of Ciaran Murphy’s called Dickey’s Choice at Horse And Jockey. From then, I tipped way in John Joe’s for a couple of years after finishing school.

My uncle Finian, who has since passed away, was always on to me to do the Green Certificate in farming. So I went to Kildalton College to complete that and rode out for Joseph O’Brien while I was there. I tipped away in point-to-points for a few years, without much success.

After I moved down to Denis Murphy in Wexford, things started to take off. I rode nine or 10 winners and also met my partner, Aisling Noone. Having talked things over, we decided to take the leap and move back up to Mullingar to Drumloose Stables. We were lucky in that my dad had a few three and four-year-old point-to-point horses to get us going.

From the start

Patrick Whyte, who owns Milan Forth, was with us from the very start. His grandson, Kevin Healy, rides out here, so Patrick wanted to support both him and us.

We bought Milan Forth the second year that we were here. After taking out a handler’s licence in 2023, we had a couple of runners that first year. They would have been mainly for my dad and Patrick.

The following year would have been my best so far. We had eight winners, with Milan Forth winning three. A couple of Dad’s also won and we were fortunate enough to be able to sell them. I didn’t have a trainer’s licence, so it was hard to watch Milan Forth win for Paul Flynn and Adrian Murray. Kevin rode him to win both races, as well as his three point-to-points for me.

Patrick had been on to me to take out a trainer’s licence and I finally did a couple of months ago. My mom and dad, Edna Murtagh Kavanagh and Richard Kavanagh, have been a great support, as has Aisling. Dad in particular, really got me going. Without my uncle Finian, I wouldn’t have this place, so I have a lot of people to be thankful for.

At the moment, I only have three horses for the track; Milan Forth and two others, who are more summer types. We would also have nine or 10 young horses for point-to-points. We are mainly sellers, but if anyone wants to get involved in a syndicate, or send me a horse to train for the track, I would be delighted.

First winner

Milan Forth giving me a first winner under rules at Cork last week was brilliant. I had been expecting him to run a big race at Thurles the time before. While I came away fierce disappointed, I hold my hands up, as I felt that I probably left him a bit fresh.

On the back of that run, it would have been hard to say I thought he’d win in Cork, but to be honest, I was expecting him to go close.

With one fence to jump last week, I was resigned to finishing second and was delighted with that. It’s never nice to see a horse fall, so when Cahirdown Boy came down, it was somewhat bittersweet. It wasn’t the way I’d like to have won my first race as a trainer.

Words can’t really describe it. As an amateur jockey, not too many people would have been advising me to start training. We all know it’s not an easy business to be in, but it is some feeling when it goes right.

Hold a licence

I am semi-retired as a jockey. I still hold the licence, but am not actively looking for rides. If someone wants to book me, I’m available, but I am mostly concentrating on the training.

I am very fortunate to be training where I am. Ciaran Murphy and Robson Aguiar are close by and are invaluable with help and advice. Robson Aguiar is only a kilometre away from us. I go in and ride out for him in the morning, then come home and ride out my own string.

My yard man Fernando (Augusto Azevevo) and Aisling look after everything while I am away. Kevin and Ciaran Quigley come in to ride out with me. There is only the five of us, so it is a small operation. My mom and dad help out when they can, as does my brother Richard.

I’d love to get a few more owners in the yard, but I know that’s never easy. Hopefully the win of Milan Forth can advertise us a bit more and encourage potential owners to come and chat to us. I’d love to eventually build up to around 30 horses in training, but that’s something that will take time.

Simon was in conversation with John O’Riordan