A GROUP of local lads had a horse called Marketo with Dad. He actually beat the Foxhunters’ winner Lovely Citizen in an open lightweight at Dromahane, the year before Eugene O’Sullivan’s horse won at Cheltenham. Marketo was put into training with Eric McNamara, for whom he won twice on the track. I remember being at Listowel in 1990, when he won a handicap chase. I think that was what sparked the interest in Dad to take out his own licence, so that he could train a couple under rules. I was only about six at the time, but Marketo was the one that started it really. When I was a few years older, I got into ponies and show jumping.

The Bookie, a Grade A pony who jumped all over Ireland, would have been the best of them. I qualified for Millstreet and all the big shows on him. I continued show jumping right up until I was 16. We had the likes of Moonlight Gazelle and Caislain Darai (dam of King John’s Castle) at home, when I started riding out the point-to-pointers.

During secondary school, I rode out for local trainer Malachy Hassett when I wasn’t needed at home. I had my amateur licence and was riding in point-to-points by the time foot and mouth halted everything in 2001. I did a year of college in LIT, where I did Construction Studies. When racing resumed, I went riding out for local men Pat Lynch and Donie Hassett. I never strayed too far from the nest!

First winner

Leavemealoneawhile, a half-sister to King Johns Castle, was my first winner, in a point-to-point at Askeaton in January 2003.

That win was actually two years to the day, since I had my first ever ride at that same meeting. The following year, I rode King Johns Castle to win his point-to-point in Loughrea.

On his next start, in a bumper at Gowran Park in December (2004), he gave me my first career win on the track. King Johns Castle, who was later sold to J.P. McManus and trained by Arthur Moore, was runner-up to Comply Or Die in the 2008 Grand National.

While King Johns Castle would probably have been the best horse we trained, Grade 1 winner Western Warhorse also passed through our hands. He came up from Pat Cloke and was here for three or four months, before going to Colin Bowe. He won his point-to-point first time out and later went on to win the Arkle at Cheltenham in 2014.

Royale Knight, a horse who was placed in the Scottish Grand National for Dr Richard Newland was another decent horse we had here. Next Destination, a two-time Grade 1 winner for Willie Mullins, was probably the best horse I have been involved with. Although I only rode him once, he gave me a great feel when winning on his debut for John Costello at Quakerstown in 2016.

He didn’t seem to be anything flash until three out, when it looked like a different horse jumped into the race. He just showed a real turbo boost from the second last.

I spent a couple of seasons travelling over and back to America, where I rode for trainer Todd Wyatt. During that time, I would have ridden in all the big timber races like the Grand National, Maryland Hunt Cup and Pennsylvania Hunt Cup. I went for three months from March to May, came home when the season ended, before returning in the autumn. During that time, I rode three or four winners on the track and a further four in point-to-points. Covid put paid to those trips and I haven’t been back since. I really enjoyed it over there; it’s good to see how things are done in a different jurisdiction.

Home away from home

Mark Beecher and Sean McDermott were both very good to me, as was Todd. There are plenty of Irish fellas working over there, so it almost feels like being at home. Over the last 12 years, our purpose-built schooling facility in Quin (Co Clare) has grown in popularity. It is very popular with trainers that have keen or excitable horses, as you can get all the work into them without having to come off or switch gallops. In the last five or six years, we have also put in an oval rehabilitation track; the only one of its kind in the country.

We have a bit of everything here; breakers, pre-trainers, point-to-point horses and a few for the track. Sometimes, an owner or trainer will leave a horse here for a few weeks, so that we can school it or teach it to settle. Usually, those horses will then go back into training with someone else.

If a horse is left here, I believe that we have the facilities in place to train them to the best of their ability. We have shown with the likes of Tullyhogue Fort and particularly King Johns Castle, that winners can be produced from our yard. As it is, I am enjoying the race-riding and schooling, but I would love the chance to train a good horse one day.

I have ridden 49 point-to-point winners, so one ambition is to get to the 50 mark. I’ve been waiting on that one a while, but hopefully it will come shortly!

I know that I don’t have too long left in the riding but I still get a buzz from it. I’m mostly riding our own horses and I don’t find it hard. Kevin (O’Neill) and I bought a few flat horses in more recent years, so that’s something we would hope to do more of going forward.

Paul was in conversation with John O’Riordan.