IN the early 90s, small Irish trainers such as Tom Foley got the whole country behind them when horses of the calibre of Danoli romped to Cheltenham success. In more recent seasons the bigger yards have tended to dominate at the Festival but next Friday I am hoping to strike a blow for the smaller man when Burning Ambition lines up for the Foxhunters Chase.

As a nephew of the great Con Power and first cousin of Gold Cup-winning jockey, Robbie Power, I was steeped in horses from a young age. While Richard Dunwoody was my idol growing up, any ambitions I had to become a jockey went out the window when I grew to 6’5! My initial involvement with horses came about through point-to-pointers that my Aunt Helen kept at home. I later moved on to eventing and show jumping.

FAMILY

I worked by way up through the ranks in those disciplines, eventually reaching the highlight of my career when winning a team bronze at the European Championships in Sweden. My first cousin, Elizabeth Power [sister of Robbie], Dessie Kilkenny and J.P. Magnier were colleagues on that team. I found eventing a great benefit, as it taught me all the basics for a future career working with racehorses.

Through J.P. Magnier, I got to spend a summer in Ballydoyle at the end of fifth year in school. It was an incredible time to work in the yard, as they had horses such as Galileo, Giant’s Causeway, Rock Of Gibraltar and Hawk Wing in training that season.

After finishing my Leaving Cert, I went back to Ballydoyle for a further year and a half, working in a two-year-old barn with my good friend, John D. O’Byrne. I rode out three to four lots each day and we had champion juvenile and Breeders Cup’ winner, Johannesburg, there at the time. I knew that my future lay in racing but having decided that, I then made the decision to return to college and complete a three-year Marketing and Media Studies degree at Dublin Business School. I really enjoyed my time in Dublin, perhaps too much!

I then went down to David Wachman for a summer, spent six months in Australia with Gai Waterhouse, before returning to David Wachman for a further four years.

It was a great place to work and I loved every second of it. David knew that I wanted to train one day, so he took me under his wing and gave me plenty of responsibility. He has been a huge influence on my career, I couldn’t say enough good things about the man.

My final piece of work experience before starting up alone, came with Todd Pletcher in the US. I was keen to learn all about the veterinary aspects of training racehorses and how they do it in other countries. Todd had some of the best horses in training at the time, including champion two-year-old Uncle Mo, Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver and the mighty Quality Road. I spent six months in the yard and found it a rewarding experience.

FACILITIES

I came home five years ago and started training from my own place. It has been a slow, gradual process over the last few seasons, adding to the facilities bit by bit. In my second season, I trained Tick Tock to win his point-to-point at Dromahane and he was subsequently sold. Any money we make goes back into the business and we are essentially a point-to-point yard, sourcing and bringing on young horses. I purposely took the decision to go down that route, as I believe that is is very difficult to compete on the track at the present time. Personally, I have always preferred watching horses develop and come along gradually, be they two-year-olds in my previous jobs or store horses in my own stables.

Burning Ambition was knocked down to Aidan Murphy at the Derby Sale on behalf of some friends of mine. They sent him to me and from day one we realised he was something a bit different. A big rangy type, he had a few little niggles, so didn’t make the track as a five-year-old.

He really impressed us when finishing second on his point-to-point debut at Ballinaboola last February – that race has worked out incredibly well with the fifth horse [beaten 35 lengths] subsequently winning a Grade 2 hurdle.

Our horse then went on to win his maiden at Cragmore and the winners of one at Courtown before we put him away for the summer. After winning his winners of two at Loughbrickland in November 2017, we aimed him at open class where he would be taking on a better class of animal again. He found the step up in grade no problem when easily beating former decent track horse Sambremont at Moira in December.

I think it was really after that performance that we first started to think about Cheltenham, feeling he may be good enough to run in the Foxhunters. Just after Christmas, Burning Ambition won his hunter chase at Limerick, again without any real difficulty.

We were very conscious that the horse hadn’t really been tested to date, so had no issues taking on Gilgamboa at Punchestown last month. The latter proved just under three lengths too strong for us on the day but I quickly realised it was a huge performance from my horse. Gilgamboa is a Grade 1 winner over fences and arguably one of the best horses to run in hunter chases in recent seasons.

He isn’t qualified to run in the Foxhunters but would almost certainly be a short-priced favourite if he was allowed take part. Burning Ambition will have learned plenty from being taken off the bridle and taught to battle. It is an experience that will not have been lost on him and I honestly feel it could be the making of the horse.

THE DREAM

I never in my wildest dreams thought I would be going to Cheltenham with a live contender. My fiance Miriam and I go to the festival every year but it is usually to cheer on Robbie or the other Irish competitors. Any time I had ever brought a horse to Cheltenham was for the sales!

Miriam also helps out with the horses and is a very important part of the team.

Everywhere I go people ask about Burning Ambition and all the locals have really got behind us. Andrew Latta and my uncle Mossie McCabe have been great to us, allowing me to school the horse anytime I want. My father, Ted, mother, Margaret and extended family have all been so supportive. Hopefully we can give all of Co Wexford and indeed the whole country plenty to shout about next Friday afternoon.

Pierce Michael Power was in conversation with John O’Riordan.