BY the time some of you are sitting down to read this, I will have already ridden Mr. Fine Threads in the 2024 renewal of the Maryland Hunt Cup.

The biggest timber race in the US is due to take place at 4pm on Saturday, April 27th. I have never sat on the horse before, but am due to school him on Friday morning. He looks to have a good chance, but as he only won last weekend, I am a little worried the race could come too soon.

My father (Alexander Ott) did train a couple of point-to-point horses when I was younger, but it wouldn’t have been his main job. He broke and pre-trained, as well as doing the hirlings for the hunt.

Myself and my brother, Luke, who is two years younger, were always around horses growing up. Our mother, Janet Burke, has the Valley View Equestrian Centre, so between both parents we were taught how to ride. I would have done an awful lot of hunting with the local Duhallow Hunt, as well as a bit of show jumping.

Pony racing

I did two years of the pony racing, flapping, mostly on the southern circuit. I enjoyed it, but I didn’t go mad on it. I rode three winners in all. I did have a few rides at Dingle, but never won anything there, other than the donkey derby!

In my teens, I was always mostly at home as there was work to be done. I would have gone in to Michael Winters a bit and rode out for Paul O’Flynn in Buttevant. My father never rode on the track, but had plenty of breakers and pre-trainers at home. I would have ridden a lot with him when I was younger; giving him a lead on a pony. Unfortunately, he broke his neck from a fall when I was just 11, which left him disabled. Even still, he has continued to be a huge influence on my career, offering tips from the ground.

My father trained his first winner on the racecourse, Dancingondacelining, at Limerick last Friday evening. Although I was a long way away from home, it still gave me so much enjoyment, as I know how hard both himself and all the family worked for that.

He had started with the breaking/pre-training, before going on to take out a point-to-point handler’s licence. It was always a case of doing the groundwork then sending horses on to a trainer for their runs under rules. So it was nice to see him get to take one the whole way this time.

I took a year off after finishing school and went to work for Turlough O’Connor. I went in to Terence Leonard in the afternoon and was with Marie Harding one day a week. I started riding in point-to-points and tried to build up as many contacts as possible.

First winner

I rode my first point-to-point winner, Zela Bella, for my father at Lisronagh in March 2022. In June, I had my first winner under rules, Inchidaly Copper for Michael Winters at Downpatrick.

My father had trained that horse to win his previous three runs in point-to-points but sent him to Michael to race on the track. Owen O’Flynn, the owner of Inchidaly Copper, has always had horses with us over the years. Paddy Cronin, a trainer who was very good to me, gave me my second winner under rules, O Mio Babbino.

I would also have ridden out for Paddy on the days I went to Paul O’Flynn. He only had two horses in training, but gave me every possible opportunity. I was also doing well in point-to-points, riding five winners during that 2022/’23 season.

America

When the point-to-points finished last summer, I knew there was little racing for me at home, so I went over to America for three months.

I spent that time based with trainer Keri Brion, but also rode out for Todd McKenna in the afternoon. I didn’t get to ride a whole lot, but got the chance to ride in a race over hurdles at Colonial Downs.

I came back home once the season ended over there and our point-to-points started back up. I had been riding out for Michael Hourigan during the winter. In the meantime, Todd reached out to me, asking if I would return as his amateur for the timber races this year.

Having ridden another five winners point-to-pointing this season, I went back out to America on March 4th.

It recently turned out that the winners I rode before I left were enough to see me win the Cork/Waterford Point-To-Point Novice Riders’ Championship for this season. Dylan O’Connor accepted the award on my behalf when they were presented last weekend. It was nice to know that my name was still out there back home, despite me being so far away.

Winners

I’ve been having some good success; riding eight winners since I came over. Todd McKenna has been very good to me. Apart from putting me up on all of his horses, he has helped get me on horses from outside stables as well.

I am also staying with Todd while I am here, so can’t thank him enough for all that he has done for me.

Harrison Beswick, who was second in the professional jockeys’ standings last year, has also been brilliant in introducing me to trainers and passing on contacts. I have ridden three winners under NSA Rules, which is the same as inside the rails in Ireland.

My other five have come in hunt meets, which would be their equivalent of point-to-points. It’s a bit different over here, in that both codes can often race on the same card.

I rode a double at Blue Ridge one day; one under NSA rules and the second under hunt. In all, I have ridden two winners over hurdles, one on the flat (bumper) and five over timber.

With the Maryland Hunt Cup being the biggest race over timber on the American calendar, I am really looking forward to riding Mr. Fine Threads for Joseph Davies this weekend.

There are only 10 entries for the race, but with it being such a big track, I know I will need a lot of luck. However, as long as the quick return after last week’s win doesn’t count against him, I’m very hopeful.

Andrew was in conversation with John O’Riordan.