GAVIN CROMWELL

Not one for hyperbole, but the 42-year-old, who trains just 30 horses at his base in just a few miles outside Navan, has made a significant impact this year.

It wasn’t that long ago that he hinted that might pack training in altogether, but over the last five months, he has trained his first Grade 1 winner over hurdles. In June, Pandagreen won a two-year-old maiden at Leopardstown, and few weeks later, he won a premier handicap on Derby Day at the Curragh with Breathe Easy.

Cromwell said: “The last six months have been amazing. I never wanted to pigeon hole myself to be either a flat or a jumps trainer. I think it’s important when you train a small team of horses that you can spread them out over 12 months and then if the horses do well, they will attract better horses into the yard.

“I suppose Political Policy got me going. He won a number of races in Dundalk last winter and things took off from there. Jer’s Girl always looked above average, but she really thrived in the early part of the year and to win a Grade 1 with her at my local track, Fairyhouse on Irish National Day, was a bit surreal, to be honest. Winning big races like that gives you great confidence in your own ability. She went on and did the same at Punchestown and we have a lot to look to look forward with her, hopefully, over the winter.”

“I enjoy training flat horses and this was my first year to have a couple of nice two-year-olds. Pandagreen won her maiden at Leopardstown and Famous Milly won the premier nursery at Listowel. Breathe Easy joined me earlier this year, the plan was always to aim him at the mile premier handicap on Derby Day and he managed to win that. When you win good races on the big days, it puts your name out there and, as a result, we have been sent more horses. That gives me and the yard a great lift.

“Last week, I bought some lovely yearlings at Fairyhouse and, I have to say, as far as I am concerned, the future looks bright. You have to keep a lid on things and not look too far ahead in this game - we all know that it can tame lions, but as long as the horses remain healthy and well and they run to their best and win whatever races they can, I’ll be happy.”

ADRIAN KEATLEY

Adrian Keatley was busy at the sales over the last few weeks and he is another who has enjoyed a fine season, the obvious highlight being the success of Jet Setting in the Irish 1000 Guineas.

Speaking at Goffs this week he said: “Obviously winning the Irish 1000 Guineas was the highlight and, while we have few weeks to go before the end of the turf season, looking back now, it was a season that I couldn’t have dreamt could have happened. But it did and we are delighted that it happened and, as a result, we are trying to move forward and move into a higher bracket, whether that is at the races or the sales.

“This is the aim now. I am not training that long - we are still gelling together and getting new horses and owners into the yard. Two years ago, I was at the Sportsmans Sales at Goffs and I bought a filly for €800 and left wondering how I was going to pay for her. But now we are getting our hands on decent stock and some big name owners and that is where we are at now.

“I suppose that wouldn’t have happened had we not won the Guineas, but you can’t stand still in this game, you have to make the most of the opportunities that you have and this week we bought a Sea The Stars colt at the Orby Sale for €170,000.

“The phone is ringing and people are keen to come on board and the more the merrier as far as I am concerned. I am not a worrier. I work hard and this game is not rocket science. I get up every morning and I work hard and my staff work hard and it’s when you put in the work, you get the results. The likes of Jet Setting and G Force bring in good staff and owners and then the good riders want to ride for you, but you have to keep looking ahead and keep progressing.

“Last week we bought the sales-topper at Tattersalls on the Wednesday on spec and he was gone within 48 hours. Within a couple of hours, we had a nice owner in for half of the Sea The Stars colt. People want to do business with you and I’ll be at Tattersalls next week doing the same.

“My aim is to drive the business and bring in new horses and owners and, at the minute, I couldn’t be happier. I’d have to say that I’m very optimistic about the future.

“I moved to the Curragh in February and we have had a steady flow of around 45 horses for the summer and next year, I’d like to have around 50 horses, but I want to up the quality all the time. Ireland is a very competitive.

“Every race, every day, you are taking on the best, so you need good horses to be able to compete over here.

“That is why it is vital that you have good horses. They are not easy to come by, but we have been pretty active at the sales and the aim is to continue that trend and, hopefully, start next year good and strong.”

BILLY LEE

Billy Lee partnered his 50th winner of the campaign last Tuesday at Fairyhouse and the popular 30-year-old has developed into one of the top riders in the country.

His association with Willie McCreery has played a significant role in his success this year and Lee said: “I ride out for Willie every Tuesday and Thursday and he is a very easy man to ride for. He has confidence in me and I have (confidence) in him and we have had a great season. If I had to pick out a highlight, I suppose it would be Devonshire’s success in a Group 2 on Derby weekend. She has been a real flag bearer for us and it was very important to win a Group 2 with her.

“The fact that she is owned by Godolphin as well added a bit more to the day. There have been several good days, but, looking back, if I had to pick one day, that would be it.

“I have to have a good sweat every day, and while I try not to think too much about my weight, it is easier when you are riding winners and good horses. This game is all about momentum and when you ride winners you ride with more confidence and that opens up more opportunities. Thankfully things have gone very well from early in the season.

“I didn’t set out to ride so many winners. Last year I rode 42 and I suppose, in the back of my mind, I wanted to try and get close to that figure, but I never thought that I’d ride 50 winners in a season. It is very competitive - rides are hard to come by and you need a good yard behind you, so when Willie’s horses get on a good run, that helps me to get on outside horses.

“I ride out every Friday in Tommy Stack’s and every Wednesday and Saturday, I am down in Wachman’s. I’ll be around for the winter and I’ll tip away every Friday in Dundalk. I’ll give myself a chance over the winter, though and I’ll take a good holiday after Christmas.

“I think flat racing is in good shape. The big yards will look after themselves, but the key is that we have good prize money in Ireland and if you win a good race you get your rewards.

“You only have to look at the amount of trainers that won races on Champions Weekend. The sales at Tattersalls and Goffs were strong and looking at flat racing, I’d say it’s in a good position at the minute.”

KILLIAN LEONARD

Killian Leonard has been arguably the find of the season. A natural lightweight, he has been in demand all year and he lost his 7lb claim mid-way through the campaign. He has plenty of his 5lb claim left and the 17-year-old has improved markedly this summer, culminating in a big race success on Sors at the Curragh, in the Rockingham, for Andy Slattery.

He has a good team of people around him and he is not one to sit back and wait for things to happen. He is keen to learn and is not afraid to ask advice from some of the senior rider in the weighroom.

I spoke to Leonard on Thursday and, reflecting back on this season, he said: “I set out this year to ride 15 winners and I’ve had 23 so far, so I couldn’t be happier with how the year has gone. I am based with Susan Finn and I divide up my week by riding out most Thursdays for Michael O’Callaghan.

“I go to Joe Murphy’s on a Friday and I’ll be in Tommy Stack’s on a Tuesday. In each yard, you learn plenty. The aim was to ride 15 winners and build on what I did last year. With a few weeks to go before the end of the turf season, I’d have to be very satisfied with how things have gone.

“My best day so far was winning the Rockingham on Sors for Andy Slattery. It was great to win a big handicap this year and the fact that I’m light has been a big help as well. I can claim off 8st 4lbs and now that I am down to 5lbs, I can still do that weight pretty easily. I would like to put on some weight - not fat, but muscle mass and to get a bit stronger and all that will come.

“I won’t ride that often over the winter as I want to look after my claim. I’ll keep myself fit and active. I bought a couple of yearlings at the sales and I’ll prep them myself for the breeze-ups. I had a go at the breeze-ups this year, but the horses were slow and it didn’t work out too well. Everything at the moment is a learning curve.

“Racing here is very competitive, but what I have noticed from a rider’s perspective is that there is a lot more what I would call ‘race riding’ in Ireland.

“I have ridden a couple of times in England and they tend to go hard from the time the gates open and the best horse might not always win over there. Usually it’s the one that keep going the longest or the fittest.

“The senior jockeys are very good to me and they would often tell me what I have done wrong in a race. Pat Smullen has been great. Wayne, Billy and Seamie have been great to me as well. To get feedback from lads like that is a massive help and that can only improve me.

“Earlier this year, I won a good race at the Curragh on Repeater and really I shouldn’t have, it was all down to a bit of race riding on my part, but that happened due to the advice that I get from those around me.

“Looking at the game as a whole, the fact the prize money levels are so strong over here is a huge thing. It means that every time you win a race, you are racing for proper money.

“But the money in racing tends to be recycled. I have bought a couple of yearlings and trainers will go out and buy more horses and I suppose the hope is that owners who do well with horses will reinvest again.

“I think the sport is in good shape. Using the sales as a barometer, I found it harder to buy yearlings this year and the nice horses are making money.”