I PROBABLY got into horses through cousins of mine, who always had a couple of ponies. My parents bought me a pony of my own when I was 10 or 11. Basically that would have been it. I never had any riding lessons or did anything like pony club or eventing. I was more or less been self-taught, messing around on the pony on our family farm at home. When I was 16, I got a summer with local trainer Oliver Brady in Monaghan.

Balapour was the best known horse in the yard at that time. He had finished fourth in the Triumph Hurdle a year or two before I arrived. I went to Cheltenham with Balapour on two occasions after that, when he was twice placed in the County Hurdle.

Oliver (Brady) was quite busy with the recycling business, so head lad Val Donoghue was running the yard. As I had never handled a thoroughbred before, I started from scratch, learning the basics from Val.

Throughout the next three years, I was in and out to Oliver’s during secondary school. When I finished my Leaving Cert, I spent six months working full-time in the yard.

I had been thinking of taking out an amateur licence to ride in a few bumpers and point-to-points, so I knew I had to move elsewhere. Oliver ran a successful dual-purpose operation, but while he had plenty of handicappers, he would have had very few opportunities for an amateur.

I left to go freelance, riding out for a few local trainers, as well as those further afield. I did plenty of driving in those years! When Val Donoghue went out on his own, I went in to his yard as stable amateur. I can’t recall if I had too many point-to-point rides before I had my first spin on the track in 2005.

First winner

I mainly rode at local points, riding a winner or two each year. My first and only win under rules came on the Hugh Finegan-trained Never A Secret at Roscommon in August 2008. In all, I’d say I rode no more than 10 career winners.

Over the years, I always bought a couple of young horses. We have 150 acres at home. My father farmed beef cattle, and I kept a few breakers or pre-trainers. Captain Cj was probably the first really good horse that passed through my hands. He went on to become a Grade 2 winner for Dermot McLoughlin.

I also had Darver Star here for a time, when he was recovering from leg trouble. We had him right up to the time he went back to Gavin Cromwell.

By 2017/’18, I knew that I wasn’t going to have a career as a jockey, so had started to think about training. With that in mind, I did a bit of work with Michael Mulvany before moving on to Noel Meade. I felt that with Noel being one of the best trainers in the country, it made sense to learn from him. I had a handful of rides during my time working for Noel, but it was mainly in preparation for a training career.

I was still riding out for Noel when I took out my trainer’s licence in 2019. She’s All Vintage, owned by two local lads from home, was my first runner under rules. Philip Clarke, who owns The Square Bar and Fergal Halford, a butcher who has since become a successful pre-trainer, made up the Black Steel Square Syndicate.

Cornakill Rose, owned by that syndicate, became my first winner as a trainer, when winning a maiden hurdle at Bellewstown in July 2020. She’s All Vintage won at Sligo later that October. I had some early success with jumpers starting off, as that was what I had always known. It was only when I discovered that you have less problems with flat horses that I decided to veer towards that direction.

Change of plan

Arch Enemy was initially bought to go jumping too, but we decided to start her off on the flat. She has won four races for us and been placed numerous times. Although it took her until earlier this month at Bellewstown to win her first race of 2024, she had picked up over €10,000 in prize money.

In 2022, we sold Ferdinand Star, after he finished second in a maiden hurdle at Tipperary. From that, we decided to try a different route, buying four cheap yearlings. That worked out very well for us, as all four managed to be placed, with two of those horses winning races. I like to bring horses along slowly, giving them every chance to learn and do things right. The likes of Arch Enemy have shown that, if you put in the time, they can be consistent over a number of years.

It’s very hard for very small trainers right now. Costs are rising and it makes it more difficult to compete. It’s certainly not getting any easier. I am fortunate to have a great team at home. Emily Fleming rides out for me full-time, while Conor Donoghue is with us part-time. My wife Kim does all the paperwork, while my parents Kevin and Dolores help out as much as possible.

We are trying to build up the business by doing a bit new around the yard every year.

This year, we have put in some new woodchip paddocks. The objective would be to gradually build the yard up over time by making improvements as we go along. I’d also love to improve the quality of horse we have in training . I know that it’s something that will take time, but we are constantly striving to get better. We have had some good luck at the Goffs yearling sales in recent times, so the hope is to buy again at that upcoming autumn sale.

Patrick Magee was in conversation with John O’Riordan.