HASTILY was my sixth winner on the racecourse, when winning for Tom McGuinness at Dundalk on Wednesday. She was on the bridle for most of it and I was always confident during the race. She had won off higher marks in the past, so hopefully there are another one or two in her over the winter.

I’ve been delighted with how things have gone, since I got my license earlier in the year. Plenty of people have supported me and I’ve been lucky enough to ride some nice horses with decent chances.

Dad always had a few horses on the go when I was younger. Myself and my sister got into the ponies and cross-country. We would also have done a little bit of show jumping, but it was mainly the first two. There was always something going on with ponies. I learned how to ride from my mam (Diane) and dad (Robbie).

I didn’t start pony racing until I was 14, but when I did, they were brilliant in driving me all around the country every weekend. At first, I would only have ridden our own ponies at the local flapping meetings, but especially during my second season, I travelled further afield.

P.J. Donnelly gave me my first outside ride. The Donnellys taught me a good bit about the flapping, so I have to thank them. I rode my first winner for Shane Crabbe; another man that helped get me going.

First winner

It took me almost a year to get my first winner, but after that, I rode a good few. I had two good seasons at it. After the pony racing, I became apprenticed to my dad. I am still in school at the moment; I am doing my Leaving Certificate next year. The pony racing definitely helped when I was starting out, as I managed to pick up some outside rides.

Since I got down to 7lb, Ciaran O’Toole has been doing a fantastic job as my agent. I rode my first winner on the track for my dad; Genuine Jim at the Curragh in October. He had given me a good feel when he was fourth the previous time, so I was reasonably confident going into the race.

It was great to get that first one on the grass. Tony McLoughlin, who owns Genuine Jim, has been very good to me. It couldn’t have worked out any better to win my first race on one of his and trained by my dad.

Sporting Hero won two races for me in Dundalk. He is a very good, consistent horse, who was second again the last day. That race was over five furlongs, so you’d hope he could win again when stepping back up in trip. Denis Hogan, who trains Sporting Hero, has been a great supporter too. Dick Donohoe’s Autocrat was another outside winner. That race played out for him and he came home well.

Ardagh Red, a ride I picked up through Tony McLoughlin, was a nice one to get for Adrian Murray. He would be the biggest trainer around us at home, so to ride a winner for him at the first attempt was brilliant.

Looking forward

I haven’t really been away to other yards or ridden out anywhere other than for my dad. I doubt that that will change any time soon, as I have the Leaving Certificate to think about for the next few months. Hopefully, once that’s out of the way and I am driving, I can get around a bit more.

For the winter, I just want to ride as much as I can at Dundalk. Hopefully, I can get a few more winners and pick up more outside rides. Ciaran O’Toole is brilliant to have as an agent. I’ve ridden for so many different trainers since I started off. Getting six winners in my first season has been great.

There are still a couple of meetings left before the end of the year, so it would be nice to add a few more. Aside from building contacts, I just want to improve as a rider and stay free of any injuries. I’ll definitely go racing full-time after the summer and see how it goes for me. Maybe the following season, with no exams, I can give the apprentice title a shot.

I’ve had the support of so many people since I started off in racing. My mam and dad have always been there for me. Shane Crabbe, P.J. Donnelly, the Bradys, McNamaras, Bergins, Finnertys and Adrian Browne were all very good to me when I was pony racing.

Since I became an apprentice, Ciaran O’Toole and all the different trainers that I have ridden for have helped along the way. Hopefully, I can continue to repay their faith in me by improving and riding more winners.

Nicola was in conversation with John O’Riordan.