ALTHOUGH I only retired from race-riding in 2018, I had a dual role acting as assistant trainer to Donald McCain for six years prior to that. Gradually as the yard went from strength to strength and we found ourselves getting busier, I took the decision to devote my full attention to the latter side of the business. For the past two seasons, I have been working alongside Donald full-time; something that I am really enjoying.

None of my family had any background or interest in racing; it is just something I developed myself. I got a pony as a kid and did a lot of showjumping and hunting. I also competed on the pony racing circuit for a short time and worked weekends for local Galway trainer Matty O’Toole.

One afternoon I saw an advert for RACE on the television and I knew there and then what I wanted to do with my life. I told my parents of my intentions and to their credit they were very supportive of me. After my initial training in RACE, I was sent out to Christy Roche on the Curragh.

I got a great grounding at that yard, with Christy being a fantastic mentor from which to learn. Jumping always interested me more than flat racing, so I only spent a season on the level before switching codes. I rode my first two winners for Christy; with the first coming aboard Billywill in a maiden at Down Royal. The horse had already won two bumpers and was probably an absolute good thing on the day!

Even before that win, I had started schooling horses at home, as I was eager to ride over jumps. The following season [2000/01] I rode my first jumps winner, again for Christy, on Angela’s Way at Navan.

Halford

At the end of that campaign, I moved on to take up a job as conditional jockey to Michael Halford, who was still based on the Curragh at that time. I was full-time in Halford’s, riding all the jumpers in the yard. He was still a dual-purpose trainer back then although had started to increase numbers in his flat string. We had some great success together, including when teaming up to win the Grade 1 Festival Hurdle at Leopardstown with Golden Cross in 2003.

A shock 66/1 winner, he beat horses of the calibre of Back In Front, Hardy Eustace, Rhinestone Cowboy and Solerina. I suffered a bad fall at Naas shortly after that success which resulted in a dislocated hip, fractured shoulder and punctured lung. That injury left me on the sidelines for six months, after which I struggled to get going again. Like any jockey starting back fresh, you find that you lose both rides and contacts when you aren’t in the public eye as much.

Added to that, I had almost lost my claim so wasn’t in demand as much. Michael had by then almost switched his attention entirely to flat racing, so I went out on my own as a freelance rider. Despite enjoying some success riding for trainers such as Pat Fahy and Colm Murphy I continued to struggle for rides. I went back riding out for Christy Roche and it was through him that I ended up heading over to Britain.

Christy organised for me to go on a trial to Donald McCain’s and I knew immediately that it was the place for me. Donald and myself got on from the start and as time went by we became good friends. I rode for the stable from 2008/9 until my retirement at the end of the 2017/18 season.

During that time I was lucky enough to ride some fantastic horses for the yard, including a novice hurdle win on future Grand National victor Ballabriggs. Although I never got to ride the horse on the track, Peddlers Cross was undoubtedly the best horse I was ever associated with in my career. I rode him at home all the time and at his very best he was an absolute star.

Responsibility

Having hit it off with Donald from the outset, I gradually took on more responsibility around the yard, being tasked with jobs such as organising staff or doing the board for work. Donald was getting busier as a trainer yet he had no assistant trainer as such. One morning he just asked me how I would feel about taking on that role and to be honest it was an easy decision for me to make.

Initially when I came over from Ireland, I was just going to give it a few months to see how I felt but I loved it from the word go. With a yard of over a hundred horses, it was certainly a busy time for me for the three or four years I continued to race-ride!

Training horses is no easy job; it is certainly nothing I ever considered doing.

So, I consider myself very fortunate to have the opportunity to work in the role of assistant trainer. It is a big operation here and we are lucky to have some very nice horses and loyal owners.

I do plenty of racing now, saddling up, entertaining owners, representing the stable at the races. I continue to ride out six or seven lots every morning, something I feel is very important. Donald values my opinion and input in that regard, so being able to provide information is definitely a plus.

I have ridden plenty of decent horses over the years so I like to think I know one when I sit on it. Throughout the lockdown we still had upwards of 55 horses riding out, so we are ready to go once getting the green light. The first of the winter horses arrived back into the yard early last week and we have close on 40 to run over the summer months.

We also have an exciting bunch of two-year-olds to race this flat season, a new departure for us in recent years.

Donald and Mr Leslie have done very well with the young stock they buy to race on the level, with horses such as Navajo Pass [Triumph Hurdle fourth] proving a very well made acquisition.

Adrian Lane was in conversation with John O’Riordan