I RODE my first winner since turning professional on Siege Ofjadotville at Limerick last Sunday. Although it took a while to make the breakthrough, I have definitely found that I am getting more rides since making the switch. With more opportunities comes more improvement, so hopefully I can build on that recent success and progress both this season and beyond.

My dad John was a very accomplished amateur rider. He had plenty of big race wins over the course of his career but two in particular stand out. In our house at home, there are photos of him winning both the National Hunt Chase on Front Line for J.P. McManus and the Kim Muir on Master Bob for Nicky Henderson.

He retired in 2001/02 and I was born in 2002, so I have no real memories of his riding days. Dad was three times amateur champion and won the Leinster title 10 times. He was also the first jockey to go through the card, riding all six winners at Caim point-to-point on one occasion.

I would also have seen pictures and heard stories of my uncle Henry Cleary (mother’s brother) who was a good amateur at the same time as Dad. Conor O’Dwyer, who has been best friends with Dad since primary school and his wife Audrey are my godparents. I suppose I was always destined to be a jockey or at least have some involvement with horses.

Other interests

For a long time that seemed unlikely, as I was more interested in GAA in my early years. I would have been down the local hurling pitch six out of seven nights a week. My older brother and sisters were into pony club but apart from trotting the odd pony, I was well into my teens before I followed suit. I started off on a pony at home before moving on to the quiet racehorses.

Dad had been training since his mid-20s, well before he retired from riding, so there were always horses around. From the age of 18 to 20, I rode out for both Henry de Bromhead and Colin Bowe; splitting my time between the two. I had gotten my amateur licence at 16 and rode a good few bumper horses, all for my dad.

I had my first ride over jumps in December 2021 on a horse of Henry’s named Ingenious Stroke. The following month, I rode John Adams to win the amateur national at Punchestown for Colin. That was my very first ride over fences, so to get the win was special. I had never ridden in a point-to-point at that stage but made my debut a couple of weeks later. I moved on from Henry’s as I wanted to focus my attention on point-to-points. I continued to ride out for Colin but also went into Denis Murphy a few mornings a week.

I rode my first point-to-point winner on Snugsborough Hall for Liam Cusack at Stradbally in April 2023. In all, I rode seven winners as an amateur; three under rules and four in point-to-points. In June of that year, I also rode Ballyglass Beauty to win under rules at Sligo for the same stable.

Young horses

I ended up breaking my shoulder at the start of 2024, so had no real run at it. Later that year, I won that same Sligo race for a second time, also for Liam Cusack on a horse called The Dabbler. That was also my last ride before I turned professional. At the moment, I am based full-time with Colm Murphy, although I go into Liam Cusack one day a week. I also ride out at home for Dad in the evenings. As well as training, he runs a very successful breaking and pre-training business.

I get a real kick from working with young horses and watching them progress. When they come to us, most aren’t even rideable. It’s a nice feeling to see how they improve slowly and develop into racehorses. Kopek Des Bordes and Lecky Watson, both Cheltenham winners last month, came through here. We also broke the likes of Facile Vega and Champ Kiely.

The ride on Siege Ofjadotville came about through my agent Garry Cribbin. I had ridden Bynx for Martin Hassett earlier in the season and subsequently finished second on Solomon Lane for him. I have built up a good relationship with the stable so it was nice to be able to repay the support Martin has shown me.

While trainers are a bit slower to use you in point-to-points with a 5lb claim, I’ve found opportunities easier to come by with my 7lb allowance under rules. I’d be hoping that in the final few weeks of this season and into next season, I can pick up more rides and maybe add another couple of winners. It would be great to get on some nicer horses and maybe find that one that could take me to the next level.

Ross was in conversation with John O’Riordan.