MANY congratulations to Jessica Stokes, a former member of the Tipperary Hunt Branch of the Irish Pony Club, who rode her first winner on the racecourse last Sunday week at the Curragh.

On board the Tim Doyle-trained Alfalfa in the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Lady Riders (Q.R.) Handicap over a mile and a half, Jessica got her mount up to head Gotta Catch’em All inside the final furlong, staying on to beat that 3/1 favourite by one and a quarter lengths.

While this may have been the 20-year-old’s first official ride at the Curragh, she actually partnered her pony up the straight there in September 2019 having first been one of the 10 IPC candidates who undertook the Jockey Skills course at RACE earlier that month.

Jessica was very keen on eventing during her Pony Club days while she was, and probably still is when she has the time, a hunting fanatic, going out twice a week when she can.

Last Sunday, former Duhallow Branch member Tommy Aherne recorded his first success on the point-to-point scene when the Eugene O’Sullivan-owned and trained All Rise Malone landed the older geldings’ maiden for novice riders at Loughrea. This race was sponsored by the Irish National Hunt Steeplechase Committee while the previous mares’ maiden at the Galway Blazers’ meeting was sponsored by Jim Derwin Equestrian.