EDWULF’S unlikely victory in last weekend’s Irish Gold Cup has quite rightly been hailed as a fairytale result. As the horse’s regular work rider, I am dreaming that there may yet be another twist in that tale, with his Cheltenham prospects having received a significant boost on the back of his most recent performance.

Having spent almost 17 years riding as a flat jockey in Britain, I am really enjoying my association with a leading Gold Cup contender. My background was initially with National Hunt horses, starting off with my uncle Paddy Mooney when I was still in primary school. His yard was less than 20 minutes from my home just outside Navan and I was up there at every opportunity.

My older brother David (McCabe) was already riding professionally in England by the time I made the move aged 15. I went over to David Elsworth, who trained the legendary Desert Orchid at that time. I still have fond memories of Kempton on St Stephen’s Day, when the grey thrilled us all with his exploits.

Having started as a stable lad, I quickly learned how to ride and took out my licence at 16. In order to further my career, I moved on to ride as an apprentice for Andrew Reid who had plenty of opportunities for a young lad. I finished second on a mare of his named Daisy Grey on my very first spin and that same animal credited me with my initial winner at Brighton three weeks later.

After a year working for Andrew, I moved down to Newmarket, as David (McCabe) had gotten a job with David Loder. I joined Mick Ryan where I went on to ride over 200 winners during a successful career. He was a huge influence on my life and we enjoyed some wonderful times together.

HIGHLIGHT

The undoubted highlight for my part was the 1998 Irish Cesarewitch win of Sweetness Herself at the Curragh. As an Irish jockey, it doesn’t get much better than winning a big race at the sport’s headquarters. All my family and friends were there on the day and it is something I will always treasure. I also won back-to-back Portland Handicaps on Hello Mister, a real tough old sprinter.

In 2004, I came back to Ireland and went to work for David Wachman. He had some top-class horses in his care at that time and I rode work on the likes of Bushranger, Requinto and Duntle. My brother David was based in Ballydoyle by then and one morning he told me that Joseph (O’Brien) was starting up on his own. I immediately thought that it would be a great opportunity for me, as I was confident that Joseph was an up-and-coming young trainer who had everything needed to be a success. David put in a good word for me and I am now in Piltown over three years.

GENTLEMAN

Joseph is an absolute gentleman, a great boss to work for. Most mornings I will ride out a couple of bumper horses in first and second lots, then move on to flat horses for the rest of the work. We have had some incredible success in a short space of time, highlighted by the Melbourne Cup win of Rekindling and Moyglare Stud Stakes victory of Intricately.

INJURED

I have looked after Edwulf since he first arrived in the yard and it has been a real rollercoaster ride to date. We really fancied him for last year’s four-mile National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham and he looked to be absolutely cantering when pulling up injured after jumping the last. I was stood down at that final fence and was in tears after the race. At the time it appeared as if he had either broken a leg or suffered a heart attack.

Fortunately Jim O’Brien was on hand to catch the horse and hold him before he could run loose and cause himself any further damage. We were down on the landing side of the fence for 40 minutes but to me it seemed more like two hours. In truth, it looked pretty grim for Edwulf but the veterinary staff on duty that day did an incredible job to save his life.

After 10 days in an equine hospital, Edwulf was brought back to Ireland to recuperate at J..P McManus’s Martinstown Stud. I went down to see the horse one afternoon and came away happy in the knowledge that he would enjoy a peaceful retirement.

COMING BACK

A couple of months ago, I was on the gallops one morning when Joseph turned to me and said “Edwulf is coming back today”. I almost fell off the horse I was riding! We knew it would be a case of one day at a time with the horse but I was just delighted to have him back in the yard. Although he was pulled up on his comeback over Christmas, I knew he would come on from that first outing since last March.

Edwulf had been flying at home and I was very hopeful of a big run last Sunday but I didn’t dare to dream that he could actually win an Irish Gold Cup. He is such a brave horse and I love him anyway, so winning was just a bonus.

As I only ride the horse out in the mornings, most of the credit has to go to our Head Lads, Fassel and Brian. They look after him 24/7 and deserve all the plaudits for getting him back to become a genuine Gold Cup contender. In my heart of hearts, I feel he is well deserving of his place in the Cheltenham race, as his form when completing the course stands up to the closest inspection. What a fairytale it would be to win the blue riband of chasing 12 months on from nearly losing his life at Prestbury Park.

Pat McCabe was in conversation with John O’Riordan