GROWING up in Listowel, I never went a day without a football or a hurley stick in my hand. I would have played football with Listowel Emmets and hurled with Lixnaw, right up through the grades until I was 16. My older brothers, Gearoid and Kevin, were way ahead of me, so had already done the pony racing and gone on to become jockeys.

Football and hurling were the main thing for me. I never planned to get into racing at all. I was down at home one day, when Kevin was back from England. He had a couple of ponies there and told me to sit up on one. Next thing I knew, he had me trotting up the road and that just led to the rest! Soon Gearoid was giving us a hand and, between the two lads, they just pushed me into it.

I was brought up to Tom Connor’s yard to sit on a quiet racehorse shortly after that. From there, I moved on to riding the trickier horses. When I was off school, I came up to the Curragh to ride out with Kevin at Jim Gorman’s. To be honest, I just fell in love with it after that. Everything about the Curragh; the scenery, being around the horses, watching them work – I loved it all.

I still played football and hurling when I went back home, but not long after, I started pony racing for one of the lads my brothers had ridden for. I rode out every evening after school until I finished for the summer.

Gearoid and Kevin were both with Charles O’Brien, so as soon as I finished school, I went up to Kildare where the three of us shared a house together. Not long after, I got a call from James Nash, who was looking for a conditional jockey. I took out my licence with James and that was more or less the end of the football and hurling.

First winner

Leap Dearg was an older horse that had become fed up with racing. James had given him a bit of a break and he seemed to come back in good form. James said I could ride the horse to get me going, as he was a safe ride with plenty of experience. He ran well the first day I rode him and I finished second on him the next time. We later got the race after a steward’s enquiry. My first winner, even though I didn’t realise it straight away.

Leap Dearg was also my second winner, when he did finish in front at Galway a few months later. In 2019/20, my second season riding as a conditional, I had six winners. One of those, Gun Digger, won a Grade B Chase in Leopardstown for Gordon Elliott.

I could never have even dreamed of getting to ride for a big trainer like Gordon, but to do so and win was unreal. The following season, I rode Aforementioned to win the Munster National. It is still one of the biggest races I have won so far. Gordon had wanted a jockey who could do light on the horse and the fact I had ridden and won for him previously was a big help.

My agent Gary Cribbin, who does a fantastic job, deserves most of the credit for those opportunities. Gordon would use Gary’s riders a lot and Gary was good enough to put me forward. I had been having a bit of a quiet start to last season before I bumped into Foxy Jacks. I finished second on him in Roscommon the first day. Mouse had just said to go out, get him into a rhythm and get him jumping. When I came back in after the race, I asked could I stay on the horse the next day and Mouse agreed. The following month, I rode Foxy Jacks to win the Listed Midlands National in Kilbeggan. He later went on to be third in the Kerry National, before winning the Cross Country Chase at Cheltenham in November.

I am still in James Nash’s, but now go down and ride out for Mouse a couple of days a week.

Only one Troytown

I also float around the Curragh, riding work for anyone else that wants me; whether that’s a Curragh trainer or lads that come up for the day. There are a lot of Nationals around the place, but there is only one Troytown Chase. I was fortunate enough to win this year’s race on Stuzzikini for Gordon Elliott. It was a lucky ride to get. I had been due to ride another horse in the race for Gordon, but after that one was a non-runner; I was switched on to Stuzzikini. It was a brilliant race to win.

At the end of last month, I won a Pertemps Qualifier at Punchestown on Franciscan Rock for Mouse. I was very pleased with how the horse did it. He travelled well through the race, quickened up and galloped to the line. The win guarantees him a place in the series final at Cheltenham in March, so that is one to look forward to.

Franciscan Rock won a rated hurdle at Clonmel on Tuesday, so he still looks to be improving. I’m very happy with how things are going. I was a latecomer to horses and only had my first ride on the track in 2017. I’ve ridden 49 winners now. I’m not too far away from double figures again for the current season, so hopefully I can reach that in the next few weeks.

My family have always been big supporters of mine, so I have to thank them. James Nash got me going as a jockey and gave me the chances starting out. Mouse Morris, Gordon Elliott and all the different trainers and owners who helped me along the way all deserve a mention. As does my agent Gary Cribbin. Without their hard work and support, I wouldn’t be where I am.

Gavin was in conversation with John O’Riordan.