LAST October, I made a decision which would have come as a surprise to many, when deciding to call time on my race-riding career.

At 28, I would have been expected to have at least another few years left in me but from a financial perspective, it just made sense to bow out in order to pursue different avenues.

Having made a great start to my career, winning back-to-back conditional jockeys’ championships in 2017/’18 and 2018/’19, I had found that in more recent times, the opportunities just weren’t as plentiful.

As pre-training was something I had long thought about, shortly after hanging up my boots, I took the first steps towards setting up my own business.

My dad always watched the racing on TV on a Saturday; I think the interest developed from that. One weekend, he brought me to pony camp and from there, I got further lessons at Hillcrest Riding School.

At 12, I secured a weekend job working for trainer Pat O’Donnell. Initially, it was just mucking out but once I was strong enough, Pat allowed me ride some of the quieter racehorses.

In my early teens, I also rode out for trainer John Gleeson a few mornings a week, as well as riding and hunting with the Scarteen Hunt. Although still in school, I worked holidays and weekends for Enda Bolger from the age of 15.

I was fortunate enough to spend time with the late John Thomas McNamara, who was always very giving of both his time and knowledge.

After my Leaving Certificate, I spent a year working for Charles Byrnes in Ballingarry. Charles was very good to me, giving me every chance that he could. During that time, I rode my first ever winner, Lash In On, in a Kinsale point-to-point.

Better rider

As with every trainer I have worked for, I gained plenty of experience while with Charles Byrnes and was a better rider when I left. Later in my career, we would reunite to enjoy some great success with novice hurdler, Blazing Khal.

Next, I spent a year down in Cork with trainer Robert Tyner. Aside from riding in a lot of point-to-points, it was a great experience to school horses alongside Philip Enright and Derek O’Connor.

In 2014, I moved back to Limerick, dividing my time between Enda Bolger and Charles Byrnes; spending two mornings a week with each. I also rode out for a couple of smaller local trainers just to keep my contacts open.

I struggled for a while as rides were scarce and it was difficult to break into the point-to-point scene. In 2015, an opportunity to go and work for Enda Bolger full-time presented itself and I jumped at the chance. Enda was very good to me, giving me lots of rides in hunter chases and banks races.

Just before Christmas 2017, I had a chat with Enda, who advised me to turn professional.

He felt that I would get more opportunities if I made the move in that direction. Having been with him, on and off, since 15, Enda has always been a great advisor to me, so I knew it was the right decision.

Professional

My first week as a professional jockey got off to the perfect start; riding my first ever winner on the track, on Auvergnat at Punchestown.

The following year, that same horse would give me my biggest career success when winning the Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown. That victory took on added significance, as it came in the colours of Mr. J.P. McManus, a man who along with both Enda and Frank Berry, had been incredibly loyal and supportive of me throughout my time in the saddle.

I went on to ride 32 winners that first season on my way to the conditional jockeys’ championship and rode a further 21 when retaining the title in 2018/’19.

In 2018, I was also part of the winning Irish team in the annual Australia v Ireland Challenge Series. I had 15 winners the following season but after riding out my claim towards the end of that campaign, it became more difficult in subsequent years.

Every jockey needs that breakthrough horse to propel them to the next level and I was fortunate enough to win three-in-a-row aboard Blazing Khal in late 2021. After winning his maiden hurdle at Galway in October, the Charles Byrnes-trained gelding then won twice in Grade 2 company at Cheltenham in November and December. Unfortunately, he later sustained an injury that would keep him off the track for well over a year.

Struggling

Although I rode 13 winners in 2021/’22, I just found myself struggling to make it pay. With Blazing Khal on the sidelines, there wasn’t even that one good horse to keep going for.

So, in October of last year I decided to take an indefinite break from race-riding. A month or two after, I rented out stables in Goresbridge, from where I began pre-training a few horses.

Then, in March of this year, I moved down to New Ross, to a new yard that has excellent facilities for breaking and pre-training young stock. With a two-furlong round gallop, encompassing a two-furlong hill gallop of deep Wexford sand, the yard offers horses every opportunity to develop and reach their full potential.

It is also a huge advantage that everything can be done on site - we no longer have to go away to work the horses. We also have a loose schooling area, walker and turn out paddocks here.

My girlfriend Cass gives me a hand, while Dan Holden comes in to us in the afternoons, after finishing work with Colin Bowe.

Earlier this year I applied for a handler’s licence, so I hope to train a few for point-to-points this season.

With that in mind, I bought a nice horse at the recent Arkle sale. Hopefully, we can enjoy some success both in the point-to-point fields and sales ring in the coming months and years.

Donal McInerney was in converstation with John O’Riordan