LAST weekend I won the most prestigious jumps race in America - the Maryland Hunt Cup - for the second time, when I crossed the line first aboard Raven’s Choice. I originally came to the USA five years ago primarily to ride in the event, and having stayed on here afterwards, my career in the saddle has really blossomed.

Originally from Co Waterford, my family is well-known in show jumping and eventing circles. My two brothers, three sisters and I, all hunted with the West Waterfords, where my father is Huntmaster and my brother, whipper-in.

Horses were a way of life for all of us as children and we helped out on the farm, before and after school every day. Producing high quality sport horses is a big business for my family and we can have over 100 on the farm at any time. I competed in show jumping and eventing right up through the ranks, having started out at the RDS, at just eight years old, later competing in two European Championships, where I won a silver medal representing Ireland.

As a junior rider, I had the pick of the family’s horses, however, as I got older I had to share the rides with my two brothers, which made it more difficult to do as well. At 19 years old, I made the move into racing, more by chance than anything else. I spent some time working at Scarvagh House Stud where I first worked with thoroughbreds.

One afternoon I schooled a mare after a point-to-point and the owner asked would I be interested in riding her in a race. Up to that day, I had always believed I was too tall and heavy to make it as a jockey.

I jumped at the chance and having ridden in a point-to-point, I then set myself the goal of winning one. Once that milestone was achieved, I went on and won a number of point-to-points, before adding a track winner to my CV when I won a bumper at Newcastle. However, weight was always an issue and despite a relatively promising start to my racing career, I soon struggled.

In 2010, I was approached by George Mahoney, who invited me out to America, to ride in the Maryland Hunt Cup. It was a race I had read about, as it is famous the world over and regarded as the biggest prize in US National Hunt racing. Initially I was only meant to be there for two weeks but after finishing second in both the Cup and Grand National, I stayed in the US for a further nine weeks, winning five races during that period.

I returned home when my visa expired but applied for a new one straight away and was soon on my way back. Since I made the move, I have been very fortunate, winning a number of big races and holding my own in the jockeys’ table. In 2011, I won the International Gold Cup on Incomplete and followed up in 2012 on Grinding Speed. The latter also won the race again in 2014, while in between, he claimed the 2013 Virginia Gold Cup.

Professor Maxwell gave me my first Maryland Hunt Cup win in 2013 and I doubled my tally last weekend aboard Raven’s Choice. The victories of Grinding Speed and Professor Maxwell in 2013, saw me become only the fifth jockey in 119 years to win both the Virginia Gold Cup and Maryland Hunt Cup in the same year. I was the leading apprentice jockey in America in both 2011 and 2012, while in 2013 I was leading Amateur. Last season I was leading Timber rider in the country. To date, I have won nine timber stakes races since making the move over here.

Raven’s Choice, despite being an eight-year-old, is still considered very young for the race. The timber fences are over five foot tall and it usually takes an older, more experienced horse to win. Having won two top timber events in 2014, connections briefly flirted with the idea of running at Maryland but wisely agreed to give the horse an extra year.

Thankfully their patience was rewarded last weekend as Raven’s Choice gave me a great spin, always in the front rank, jumping perfectly aside from one mistake. We raced in second place for much of the journey, before taking it up to win nicely. With luck on his side, the horse should return again next season and be a leading contender, with an extra year likely to prove a significant advantage.

I see my own long term future very much in the US. I will reapply for a visa once my existing one expires at the end of the year. Hopefully I still have a number of years left as a jockey, but when the time comes to retire, I want to start my own business dealing in both thoroughbred and sport horses. Having competed at a high level in both disciplines and coming from a background that has provided me with a wealth of experience in dealing in horses, I am confident that I can make a success of any future ventures.

Mark Beecher was in conversation with John O’Riordan