MAKNIFICENT provided my initial winner as a jockey at Leopardstown recently. The win was extra special as I was riding for my boss Michael O’Callaghan, who has been such a huge influence on my fledgling career over the past 12 months.

Although my own family were not involved in racing, my cousin Craig Maguire started with point-to-point trainer Sean Mahon, before moving on to work for Tony Martin. From the age of 13, I was going into Sean’s every day after school, as well as weekends and school holidays. That continued until I reached 16 when Sean suggested that I should try out for RACE.

Firstly, I had to pass a week-long trial, which is probably very different to what most people would imagine. The truth is students are assessed on a variety of different skills, with race riding not being the be all and end all. During the week on trial I only sat on a horse once; the remainder was spent painting fences, weeding paddocks and undergoing fitness training. The objective of the trial is to gauge students’ attitude to work and establish who wants it the most. Thankfully I proved up to the task and succeeded in gaining a place on the course.

As I had been staying with Sean (Mahon) for long periods towards the end of my time there, I found moving out of home easier than most. Once we started to ride horses at RACE, it took me longer to adapt, so much so that I was held back and not sent out to a trainer until the second group of students. Fortunately I was sent to Michael O’Callaghan’s where I quickly made up for lost time under the expert guidance of Michael, Shane Kelly, Fada, Damian Melia, David Hayes and later Kieren Fallon.

I got to ride plenty of work in the yard and made progress in the saddle. Last year was a real learning curve and having had a couple of spins on turf during the season, I gained great experience in Dundalk over the winter months. I can’t thank the boss enough for the time and effort he has put into my career, both on and off the track. David O’Brien (who arrived from RACE in the first group) and myself were really taken under his wing from the moment we arrived in the yard - staying with the family at weekends, brought out during the week, taken for dinner, never left out of any social occasions.

Michael helped me find a house, organise a car and get in contact with jockeys’ coach Gordon Power. The latter has been a big influence on me and we still talk regularly and review my rides.

Kieren Fallon joined the yard as stable jockey earlier this year and he has been such a positive influence on everyone. Despite his enormous success over the years he just settled in as part of the team and has taught us all a great deal. It is a privilege to ride work alongside Kieren and he imparts his knowledge both after gallops and races. What really struck me was his great care for horses and ability to teach the yearlings and two-year-olds how to race.

I am currently staying with Gary Halpin and as one of the leading apprentices in the country he has been very generous with his advce.

In 2016 I was determined to ride that first winner and help raise my profile as a jockey. Having gone close on a couple of occasions, I was becoming a little frustrated but thankfully Maknificent got me off the mark. (Total Demolition at Leopardstown on Thursday was a second winner) Hopefully now that I have achieved that goal, I will attract outside rides and go on to enjoy a fruitful campaign.

My long term objective is to ride as many winners as possible and for as many people as I can. I am not one to rest on my laurels, so will never be satisfied just making a living at the game; I want to establish myself as one of the leading riders. To that extent, I have a better chance than most jockeys, as I am based in a great yard, surrounded by great people. With so much in my favour, the rest is up to me.