CRACKERDANCER’s win at Navan last weekend has left us dreaming of a possible trip to Punchestown for the Grade 1 Champion Bumper later this month. The mare has had to overcome serious injury but is now fulfilling her potential after over two years off the track. Ground permitting, she will take her chance in that race and it would be a fairytale ending to what has already been a very long road.

Some of my earliest memories of racing revolve around Beau Ranger, a horse my father Liamowned to win his first two starts. Initially trained by our neighbour Pat Hogan, we later sold him to England, where he went on to win the 1987 Mackeson Gold Cup at Cheltenham. I was very young at the time but remember watching the videos of him in those big handicap chases.

Dad always kept a few horses in training but, after Beau Ranger, he didn’t enjoy much luck with them for some time. However, he continued to buy the odd store horse or foal, which we kept at home.

My brother Bernard rode out the stores at home - I tried it for a time but wasn’t much good, so I decided was better keeping my feet on the ground! Throughout my school years I helped out with the horses at home and learned a great deal from Dad over time.

Our main family business has always been in construction so, once I finished my education, I went straight into this line of work. We continued to buy and sell horses on the side, sending the odd one into training if we felt it was more viable.

In time, we decided to prepare a horse or two for point-to-points and I think that’s when I really got the bug. I applied for a restricted trainer’s licence and was successful. I had my first runner in Killarney in 2012 and later that season Murtys Delight gave me my first winner. He turned out to be a lucky horse for us, as he was sold at the Cheltenham sales after winning in Limerick.

The following season Tidy Zag won three times for us, while Upsanddowns was another winner. Tidy Zag was a horse Dad had bought as a foal and initially sent to Mikey Moran. Once I got the licence, I took over training and fortunately he has gone on to be a star for us. Mikey always thought a lot of Tidy Zag but the horse needed to have his wind done so it took time for him to realise his full potential.

SETTLED IN

Crackerdancer fractured her knee as a four-year-old, so her owner Patsy O’Brien brought her home for some rest. He heard about me from some friends and initially sent us the mare to do a bit of roadwork and to get her ready for racing. However, in time the mare really settled in here and Patsy decided he was happy to leave her with us to continue her career. It took an awful lot of slow work to get Crackerdancer back on the track and, in that respect, I am very lucky to have two excellent work riders in Nicole Harpur and Alan McNulty.

Nicoleis a fantastic girl, a super rider who has been with us since we started. Alan rode in bumpers and point-to-points, so his experience is a huge help. At a time when trainers all over the country are complaining about how hard it is to get good staff, I realise how fortunate I am.

We have a great team here at home –Dad started it all off for me, while my mother Mai, wife Siobhan and the whole family have been very supportive. Both Crackerdancer and Tidy Zag have had serious injury problems and osteopath Jim Bergin and physio Melanie Horsman have played a huge part in their return to form.

For a small yard we have been lucky to have had other success with the likes of Phil The Flyer, Brave Poppy, Rock On Fruity, Bold Optimist and The Ballyboys. Last month, I had my first double as a trainer, courtesy of the Crackerdancer and Tidy Zag. It was a special day for all of us, especially knowing how much both horses had to overcome just to race again.

The mare had been beaten by a head on her previous start at Gowran Park, her first run in over two years. We were delighted with that run and were reasonably confident going to Limerick where she won very nicely. We started to think about Punchestown after Navan last week, where she won by 20 lengths in what looked like a very good bumper. Due to her injuries she will always need some ease in the ground, so it really all depends on the weather over the next few weeks.

As of yet Patsy [O’Brien] is undecided about keeping her in training next season, as she has already done her job. I would love to run her over hurdles but he may prefer to breed from her now. Either way, if the weather is in our favour, we may yet have one final roll of the dice before then.

Ray Hackett was in conversation with John O’Riordan