WINNING the Rehearsal Chase on Frero Banbou before Christmas has really helped raise my profile. I had also ridden another big Saturday winner for my boss Venetia Williams on Martator at Ascot the previous weekend, so it was great to keep that momentum going. With nine winners already for the current season and plenty of opportunities coming my way, I have every chance of improving on my previous best, provided I can stay injury free.

I suppose the interest in racing came from my dad, who always kept a few mares and foals. Although property is his main business, breeding horses has always been a huge hobby of his. He currently stands the former Melbourne Cup winner Rekindling at home in Hospital, Co Limerick.

I cycled to John Gleeson’s racing yard while still in school. He taught me how to ride and really got me going. John introduced me to hunting with the Scarteen and I also did Pony Club. I won the Scarteen Hunt Cup two years back-to-back. As I got older, I went in to both John and Flan Costello, who is on the other side of Hospital.

Amateur licence

I went over to Richard Fahey for the two summers up to transition year. Adam McNamara was very good to me while I was there.

I also did lots of sales work, mainly at the yearling sales for Ballyhimikin Stud. Frisk Jones looked after me while I was there. In transition year at school, I attended RACE, took out my amateur licence and had a handful of rides in point-to-points.

Once I finished the leaving cert, John arranged for me to go over to the UK and work for Tom Lacey. That, however ended up being cut short after a few months, as Covid hit. I ended up coming home and spending the summer of 2020 in Ballydoyle. It was a great experience; something that I had always wanted to do.

During my time with Tom Lacey, I had also ridden out for trainer Ryan Potter. Ryan called me one day while I was still in Ballydoyle, asking if I would go back over to work full-time for him as his stable amateur. I started with Ryan towards the end of the 2020/’21 season. The following June, I rode my first winner under rules on First Du Charmil at Uttoxeter.

By that stage, while I still rode regularly for Ryan, I had moved on to work for Venetia Williams. Charlie Deutsch, who used to come in to Ryan’s to ride out, had suggested I pop down to Venetia a few mornings. Soon after, she offered me a job as stable conditional; an opportunity too good to turn down.

More winners

I rode six winners for Venetia and one for Ryan during my first full season. I improved on that number the following season, finishing up on 13 winners. I started to get a few more outside rides, with trainers like David Dennis, John O’Shea and Sam Drinkwater.

I also got to ride a couple of winners for Tom Lacey, so it was nice to be able to renew that association. Both Tom and Ryan Potter were very good to me when I first came over and was starting out so to get back up on one of theirs and win is special.

Thankfully, this season things have been going really well. At the start of the season, my two main aims were to lose the 5lb claim and ride a big Saturday winner. I managed to get my claim reduced to 3lb early on and Martator was a big race winner for me towards the end of November.

Adding the Rehearsal Chase last month was really great. L’Homme Presse had won it for the stable two years ago, so I knew how important a race it was.

Venetia has been very good to me, giving me plenty of opportunities. The owners in her yard have also been very supportive of me, so for that I am very thankful.

I’m not one for setting goals as such. I find that this is a hard enough game without putting added pressure on yourself. Ideally, I’d love to ride another big Saturday winner and maybe get a few opportunities at the big festivals later in the season. Other than that, the hope would be to stay free of injury and keep it going.

Ned was in conversation with John O’Riordan.