LAST January, I made the decision to resume my race-riding career, after a six-year absence from the sport.

At the time, the intention had been to maybe have two or three rides a month, on horses I had schooled for local trainers around Waterford. I couldn’t ever have envisaged how well my return would turn out - riding seven winners, including one at the Leopardstown Christmas Festival.

My initial experience of horses came courtesy of my aunt, Barbara McHugh, who gave riding lessons at my grandfather’s place in Carrick-on-Suir. I didn’t start riding until the age of 12 but, two years later, I was up at RACE in Kildare. Prior to that, I sat on my first racehorse in John Kiely’s yard and later spent Saturdays going into Pat Flynn.

As part of my RACE training, I was sent out to John Oxx on the Curragh. Despite having issues with my weight, I rode a few times on the flat for Mr Oxx before returning to Waterford to work for Pat Flynn.

I then took a year out of racing, going to work on a building site for Ger Ryan. He offered me the chance to become an apprentice electrician, so I reached somewhat of a crossroads in my young life. Feeling that I still had some unfinished business with racing, I asked Noel Meade if he would take me on as an amateur. Noel agreed to give me a chance but felt I was better off turning conditional, as I already had previous riding experience.

After riding a winner on Bondi Storm in a bumper at Navan, my career as a jockey finally took off. Having ended that first season with four successes, I rode a further 15 in 2001/’02 and 22 winners the following season.

In December 2002, I rode a double at Cork, including a spare ride on future graded performer, Central House.

Two years later, I enjoyed my biggest success to date, when winning the Grade 3 Golden Cygnet Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown on Watson Lake. I had been on board the horse when he won his maiden hurdle at Navan but Paul Carberry was due to partner him at Leopardstown.

Fortunately for me, Carberry stood himself down earlier in the afternoon and Noel Meade trusted me with the ride, despite being unable to use my claim. Knowing that the trainer had full confidence in me to get the job done was a huge plus.

Noel was a huge influence on my career and I certainly wouldn’t be where I am right now without his support. In fairness, I was quite immature at that time and had a lot of growing up to do.

I had no real respect for myself or for what was going on around me and it took a few years before I fully appreciated what opportunities I had been given.

After the winners began to dry up, I left racing for a year and went to work in Australia. On my return, I went working on the buildings for Eddie O’Brien Contractors in Dunvargan. They have always been very good to me and I thank them for their employment.

Despite continuing to ride out and school horses for local lads, I had very few rides over the next few years. I did ride a winner for Vincent Halley in 2012/’13 but after that I retired from the saddle. The Christmas before last, I did a few horses for Terence O’Brien and, having enjoyed the experience, I went back and rode out the odd lot for John Kiely.

In time, John asked me to come in and ride out full-time, so I left the building work and returned to racing. Over Christmas, I went racing at the Leopardstown Festival with family and friends. I found that I had a renewed love for the sport, so much so that I considered reapplying for a jockey’s licence.

Trainers Jane Aherne, Michael Ronayne and Pat Breen; owners Peadar Kelly and Dr John Bermingham; my parents Patrick and Annette, brother Kenneth, aunt Barbara McHugh and good friend Gary Dunford had been at me for some time to go back race-riding, so deserve a special mention. When I first went back, Pat got me going, while John Kiely was great with his advice. I always received so much support and general goodwill from the trainers around my locality.

Aside from those already mentioned, I want to thank Vincent Halley, Margaret Flynn, Liam Casey, Shane O’Brien, Michael Ronayne, Michael and Fiona O’Connor, Roger McGrath, Paul Kiely, Liam Burke and Shay Barry. A long list but without them I probably wouldn’t ever have resumed my race-riding career.

Special horse

In January 2020, I rode my first winner in nearly seven years, when Jacksons Gold won at Roscommon. It was a special occasion, as I have always been close friends with trainer Alice Curran and her father, Stephen. A few days after that win, I was schooling horses when Paddy Corkery approached me to partner Master McShee in a piece of work.

From there, I got to keep the ride on a horse who has resurrected my career in recent months. After winning his maiden hurdle in Cork in early December, he gave me one of my best days in the saddle when following up at the Leopardstown Christmas Festival.

It was somewhat of a surreal experience returning to the winner’s enclosure at that track some 16 years after my Grade 3 win on Watson Lake.

So much had happened in the intervening years, at times I never thought I would get back to that level again. Both Paddy Corkery and the Curran family have been very good to me and I am so appreciative. My parents, who have always supported me, not just in racing but in life itself, deserve great credit. I may not always have made the right choices along the way but they were always there to offer advice and help.

I know I wouldn’t be where I am today only for their continued support.

Initially I had only intended to ride a few horses a month but now that I have proven myself, I’d love to build further contacts and maybe ride out for a few more trainers. I know that most trainers have their own jockeys but I have been very fortunate to work with some wonderful people over the last year or so.

My agent, Ken Whelan, has been a big help as he knows the game well and is a good man to offer advice. You definitely need some luck in this sport and I have been blessed to come upon two real nice horses in Jacksons Gold and Master McShee. Both of those will most likely go chasing this season so there is much to look forward to. If someone had told me last year that I would have done half as well as I have, I wouldn’t have believed them. From everything that happened in my life to where I am now, I probably had to go through it all to get to the present.

It is only now that I have matured and appreciate what I have. After over a year back in racing, I can’t wait for the coming season and those ahead.

Ian Power was in conversation with John O’Riordan.