AFTER riding the first double of my career at Sligo recently, I equaled the number of winners I rode in 2017/18.

With more than half of the current campaign still ahead, I am confident I can reach double figures for the first time.

If doing so, I will hopefully put myself in a position where I can challenge for the conditional jockeys’ title.

As a child in Listowel, I was more interested in going down the town than anything to do with horses. My elder brother, Gearoid, had started to ride ponies for Pat and Jack Sullivan, as well as riding out for Tom Connor.

One day I tagged along with them to a flapper meeting at Newmarket and decided to give it a try.

Tom Connor threw me in at the deep end and I was sitting up on horses before I even had any riding lessons!

Fortunately I was a quick learner and soon followed my brother into the pony racing ranks.

In all, I had over 300 rides and was champion rider at Dunmanway one season.

At 14, I started going into Tom Cooper’s to ride out and he was very good to me. As a young teen, I was entrusted with the task of riding Son Amix in his work – a real thrill. Forpadydeplasterer was also in Tom’s yard at the time – another real star.

Eoin McCarthy was also working there at the time and we became good friends. I was delighted to ride Pound A Stroke to win twice for him in recent seasons.

INJURY

I spent two weeks on the Curragh with Christy Roche before my Junior Certificate, then went straight back up after sitting the exams.

All I ever wanted was to become a jockey. I moved over to Britain for a time, riding first for David Evans and latterly David Barron.

However, I got injured and came home to turn conditional with James Nash. Soon, I was on my travels again, back over to Britain to Jonjo O’Neill. Once again, injury cut short my stay, forcing me to return to Ireland and Tom Cooper’s stables.

Ian O’Connor’s uncle, Philip, got me the ride on Billy De Kid, whom I partnered to success at Clonmel. I also rode Masons Daughter to win for Philip O’Connor at last years Listowel Festival.

That win was one of the highlights of my career thus far, as I went to the festival every year growing up. I also rode a winner for Barry Connell aboard Deputys Pass at Gowran Park, at a time when my career was on the rise.

I then got banned at Downpatrick and it all stopped. Luckily, Eoin McCarthy took me under his wing, gave me a couple of winners and it all just got going again.

FAMILIAR SURROUNDINGS

Three weeks ago, I came back up to the Curragh and the familiar surroundings of James Nash’s yard. My younger brother, Gavin, is also with James Nash and has already ridden a winner. The boss just rang and asked if I would be interested in coming back up to Kildare as it would open up more doors for me.

He allows me off to ride work for other trainers two days a week, so that is a massive help. Gavin had finished third on Cock A Doodle Doo at Limerick in July but picked up an injury prior to Sligo, so I stepped in for the ride.

I had already won on Like A Diamond at Roscommon, so was making it two-in-a-row on that horse. Ian O’Connor has done a terrific job with that horse, sweetening him right up and rekindling his interest in racing.

Both horses go to Sligo next week, although maybe it is asking a bit too much to expect another double! I also rode winners this season for Charles Byrnes and Eric McNamara, two men who have been very good to me.

I am proud to be able to say I have now ridden winners for all the trainers down around the are in Kerry and Limerick – that really helped get me going – Tom O’Connor, Tom Cooper, Ian O’Connor, Eoin McCarthy, Eric McNamara, Philip O’Connor and Charles Byrnes.

I’d love to give the conditional jockeys’ title a real go, although I am conscious I don’t have a big yard behind me.

However, I will keep plugging away and hopefully the winners will come. I am riding better than even this season and that has been reflected in my numbers.

Listowel is coming up next month so I am looking to be very busy over the course of the week. It would be a dream come true to get a ride in the big one itself, the Kerry National.

I can claim off 10st so hopefully I might be called on for one of the lighter weights. Aside from that, I just want to continue riding winners and building more contacts over the coming months.

Kevin Brouder in conversation with John O’Riordan