CO Monaghan-born apprentice Conor McGovern, who moved to England in mid-March, landed one of the most historic races in Britain on Wednesday when Waarif won the Carlisle Bell Handicap over a mile.

The winner is trained by McGovern’s boss David O’Meara who had given the 22-year-old from Clones his first success in Britain two days earlier when Montague justified his position as favourite in a six-furlong claimer at Wolverhampton.

Like many with an interest in equestrianism in Co Monaghan, Conor began his riding career in other circles. “I have always been involved in horses as my family would have been into show jumping and hunting. I started show jumping myself at the age of seven and rode a 138cms pony called Dooneens Coolala Boy at the RDS. I had a lot of success around the country.

“When I finished up school I was lucky enough to be selected to join the racing school in Kildare. This was a great grounding for me as I had never properly ridden a racehorse before. They taught me how to ride with a different technique than I was used to but I adapted quite quickly. I was sent out to Michael Halford’s yard for work experience and was lucky enough to keep that job after the course had finished.

“I started riding in pony races that year also and had my share of winners including one for Tony Beegan at Dingle which everyone wants. Later that year, I signed on as an apprentice to Mr Halford and, after eight rides, I rode my first winner for him. I had some nice winners for Mr Halford including some for Godolphin.

“I then moved home to Co Monaghan to join Anthony McCann for the winter months during which time we got some nice winners including my first double. Dundalk was always a lucky track for me and I loved riding it.

“On the advice of Shane Foley, I moved to Dave O’Meara roughly two months ago. Dave has been very good to me, giving me plenty of rides and on horses with live chances. I had gone through a phase of second-place finishes for him but, we broke the ice on Monday at Wolverhampton, and then followed up with another winner on Wednesday.

“It was great to ride my first winner on the turf in Britain but to do so in The Bell in Carlisle was a massive achievement. I’d like to send out a big thanks to all connections, to Mr O’Meara and my agent Richard Hale. My aim now is to ride as many winners as I can and get my name known among different trainers.”