WINNING the Lorna Brooke Qualified Riders’ race at Fairyhouse during the week was brilliant. It was the biggest win of my career so far.

I had ridden three previous winners under rules, but that one was really nice to get. I was delighted to ride a winner for Gordon Elliott and to make the most of the opportunity that came my way.

I’m probably from a hunting background more than racing. My mother Donna is Master of the East Down Foxhounds. She taught me how to ride when I was around four and I just went from there.

As well as the hunting, I did Pony Club with the East Down Pony Club; eventing, mounted games and everything. As I got older, I went to the Junior Europeans and Young Rider Europeans in eventing.

Towards the end of secondary school, I started riding out for local trainer Brian Hamilton in Downpatrick.

I always had an interest in horseracing but, being so busy with the eventing over the years, I just never got the chance to do anything about it.

My father Brian is big into racing, so I had watched it on television from an early age.

Struggle

In the beginning, I did struggle to adapt to riding racehorses, but once I got going it was fine. I spent three years working for Brian Hamilton, during which time I also took out an amateur licence. I had a couple of rides on the track on Arakan Quest, a horse I own, together with my dad’s friend Mark Breen. I also rode a point-to-pointer for Daniel Fitzsimmons called Puff My Pistons.

I then went down to James Doyle in Wexford as stable amateur. I was there for nearly two years. I rode my first winner during that time; One For The Yard at Loughanmore in October 2020.

I had moved on to Colin Bowe by the time Covid came along. With the point-to-points off, I had a few rides on the track. I rode two winners for Colin - Carcaci Castle in a bumper in Bellewstown and John Adams in a maiden hurdle at Sligo.

In 2022, I went down to Sam Curling in Cashel. I’ve had a good few rides for Sam, over 30 I’d say; a mix of hurdles, bumpers and point-to-points.

In February of this year, I rode another winner under rules, Smallcraftwarning in a ladies’ race in Thurles for Evanna McCutcheon.

Ken Whelan put me in touch with Evanna and I have since built up a good relationship with her. I go in there to ride out whenever I have any free time from Sam’s. Evanna has a small team of horses, but does well with them.

I have known Correna Bowe for a long time, going back to our eventing days. When I was in Colin’s, she would come in to ride out sometimes.

Correna followed me into racing and we eventually both ended up working for Sam (Curling). After Correna bought Echoing Silence at the sales, he was sent to Sam to run in point-to-points. I did a lot of the initial schooling on the horse, before he won on his debut at Ballycahane in March. He went on to top the sale at Cheltenham just a few weeks later.

Random ballot

Getting the ride on General Hubble at Fairyhouse was quite by chance. Aine O’Connor had asked me to take part in the race, but at the time, I had no idea what I would be riding. The rides are allocated by random ballot.

When Aine phoned to tell me I was on General Hubble, I was delighted. I knew that he was the form horse in the race and, being trained by Gordon Elliott, he had to have every chance.

The race itself couldn’t have worked out better. It was very straightforward. He jumped like a buck, apart from missing one down the back on the first circuit. He made it very easy for me.

There is a ladies’ race back at Fairyhouse at the end of the month, so hopefully I might get another opportunity on the horse. Looking ahead, my big aim for the season would be to win the ladies’ point-to-point title. Hopefully, I can also pick up more rides under rules and stay free of any injuries.

Toni Quail was in conversation with John O’Riordan.