AS an owner, trainer, breeder and groom, I really got to experience the recent win of Storm Eric from every aspect. As a restricted licence holder, it was a great thrill to send out that first winner but, having had the horse from day one, it also made the whole occasion all the more significant. While I have no plans to expand the training operation, I do have a yearling from that same family and the mare is also back in foal.

I started riding ponies at my aunt’s place in Julianstown when I was no more than four years old. As she lived less than 15 minutes from our house, I was down there at every opportunity. During second year in school, I went into local trainer Ado McGuinness at weekends and holidays. Despite having a relatively small string of about 20 horses at that time, Ado had already enjoyed good success with the likes of Jacks Estate and Victram.

I think, throughout his career, Ado has that ability to find those better class horses who eventually helped propel him to the next level. He was also a huge influence on me personally, teaching me how to ride thoroughbreds and develop as a jockey. I took transition year off and went to RACE, where I was sent out to Michael Halford for 10 months. Again, Michael was a great mentor, who helped bring me along that bit further. I returned to school and completed my Leaving Cert after that invaluable experience.

My weight determined that I was never going to forge a career as a flat jockey so, after school, I signed on as an amateur with Jim Dreaper. The latter was an absolute gentleman to work for and I spent a thoroughly enjoyable seven years at Greenogue. I had missed out on the Carvill’s Hill, Merry Gale and Harcon years but Grade 1 winner Notre Pere and Grade 2 winner Telenor were stable stars during my time.

Owners Ann and Alan Potts had just arrived in the yard and it was incredible to have access to that type of well-bred horse. Goonyella, owned by the Potts, was my first ever winner as a jockey, when taking a four-year-old maiden at Lisronagh in December 2011. That same horse won two point-to-points and a maiden hunter chase the following year and was sent off at just 12/1 for the 2013 Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse.

Unfortunately, what could have been a career highlight for me was ended quite abruptly when a slipped saddle forced us out of the race early on. Compensation awaited just three weeks later when I partnered Goonyella to win at the Punchestown Festival. That was just my third ever success under rules - the first coming aboard Right Strategy for Tom McCourt at Downpatrick in May 2012.

In 2014, I won the Conyngham Cup at Punchestown on Too Late To Sell for Francis Flood. Johnny Barry, who had ridden the horse on his previous two starts, couldn’t do the weight, so very kindly recommended me for the spare. I only had a handful of rides in point-to-points towards the latter stage of my career. Iin the end, the juice wasn’t worth the squeeze. Mr Cosmopolitan, a rare ride over hurdles, became my final winner under rules when taking a handicap at Naas for Jim Dreaper in February 2016.

Tillage

After retiring from the saddle, I went back to the home place to work full-time on our tillage farm. Throughout my years working with Jim Dreaper, I had always bought and sold a few foals, so I decided to continue to pinhook as a hobby. I went over to Newmarket and bought a mare named Storm out of Charlie Hills’ yard. She had already done her job in winning her maiden at Kempton but I made the mistake of continuing with her racing career. In reality, I should have just put her straight in foal but hindsight is a wonderful thing!

Eventually when I did put Storm in foal, she was plagued with bad luck in those early years. Her first foal nearly died from very bad ulcers, before subsequently chipping a bone in his hock. He never made the track but is now enjoying life as a riding horse. The next foal out of Storm, a Dragon Pulse colt that Garvan Donnelly bought at Tattersalls. developed colic and later died. The mare was then barren for two years, before she produced Storm Eric in 2018.

Throughout my lifetime in racing, the local trainers have always been an incredible support. The likes of Ado McGuinness, Jim Dreaper, Garvan Donnelly and Karl Thornton are just on the other end of the phone; something that is very reassuring.

Garvan trained Storm Eric for his first run but once he handed in his licence, I sent the gelding to Karl. In fairness to both men, the horse was backward and needed time to grow and develop. He raced four times last year but really benefited from the break he received over the winter. I started the horse back pre-training the week of Galway; doing his early work in Jim Dreaper’s.

Thomas Dreaper suggested that I should consider taking out a restricted licence so that I could race Storm Eric myself. I hadn’t really thought about that option up to then, so I have Thomas to thank. After completing the trainers’ course, I had intended to switch the horse to hurdling but although a good jumper, Storm Eric was just too keen.

His first run back over a mile at Dundalk was satisfactory, as he would have needed it and the trip wasn’t ideal. Storm Eric then went on to finish third on his next run, before twice being the bridesmaid. A poor run on the turf at the Curragh was readily explained given that he raced too keenly over that trip on testing ground. I travelled back to Dundalk last Friday night with my wife Aislinn and father, Jimmy. Usually, my father-in-law, Pixie Lambe, would also accompany us but he is currently in Australia.

I was hopeful that Storm Eric could go close but racing is so competitive in this country, it’s hard to be too confident. Cian MacRedmond, a young apprentice based with Ado, gave the horse a fantastic ride; carrying out instructions to the letter. Cian is a very good rider who works hard and deserves every success that comes his way. I was delighted that he was able to ride Storm Eric on the night, thus sharing in my first success.

Hopefully, the horse can go on from here and add to his tally, while with a yearling on the ground and the mare carrying an Elzaam foal, we have plenty to look forward to.

Jamie Flynn was in conversation with John O’Riordan