MANY congratulations to Dylan Browne McMonagle who was presented with the flat achievement award at Monday’s Horse Racing Ireland awards evening in the Mansion House, Dublin.

The Letterkenny jockey was not recognised for retaining his apprentice title with 49 winners but for recording his first Group 1 success on the Joseph O’Brien-trained Al Riffa in the Goffs Vincent O’Brien National Stakes at the Curragh on Longines Irish Champions weekend. The 19-year-old also partnered the O’Brien-trained fillies Brostaigh and Tranquil Lady to win at Group 2 and Group 3 level respectively in France during the season.

Interviewed by Des Cahill, Dylan said: “To get my first Group 1 winner on Champions Weekend was massive, on the big stage and to be able to deliver was incredible. I’m very grateful to be getting the opportunities and to be able to get success at a high level. I couldn’t thank everyone enough for all the support all season. They all know who they are.”

Opportunities

On his career so far he commented: “I hit the ground running and things have been really smooth from the start and I’ve got loads of support from lots of different owners and trainers. You can’t get the job done unless you are on the horse and getting the opportunities, I’m grateful for that and hopefully things will keep going.”

Asked where he lives, Dylan replied: “Outside Carrick-on Suir in a house with Jake Coen, Conor Walsh and Mikey Sheehy, a good crew of us.” Perhaps it’s an issue in the Cahill household as Des went on to enquire who puts out the bins? “Myself, I’m the mammy of the house,” answered the award winner. “They are all very good and do what they are told!”

Former rival

After claiming the 2021 apprentice title, Browne McMonagle was presented with HRI’s emerging talent award which, on Monday, was won by one of his friends, and a former rival on the pony racing circuit, Sam Ewing.

A dual-purpose jockey whose jumping career commenced without the benefit of a claim, the Templepatrick native made himself known to a wider audience over the extended weekend of October 7th to 9th.

On the Friday evening, Ewing landed a division of the apprentice handicap at Dundalk on the Matthew Smith-trained Mads Black Eights; the following afternoon, riding for Peter Fahey, he won a near three-mile chase at Chepstow on Peregrine Run; then on the Sunday, he joined forces with first-season trainer Cian Collins to win the Welsh Champion Hurdle at Ffos Las with Effernock Fizz.