I HAD travelled to Cheltenham as part of Henry de Bromhead’s team for the past three years but up until Tuesday, I had never led up a winner.

I enjoyed watching my colleagues return to the winner’s enclosure but had never experienced that feeling. Having finally got the chance to experience it for myself after leading Slade Steel back in after his Supreme Novices’ win, I can tell you, it’s something money can’t buy. Being the first race, on the first day, also made it pretty unreal.

Henry’s gallop is right beside the national school at home, so, for years, I would have seen his horses pass every morning.

Like everyone, I would have followed Cheltenham, the Grand National and Punchestown growing up but I didn’t have any real connection with racehorses.

I suppose my grandfather would have had horses and all my aunts and uncles rode horses and whatever. They were more into the show jumping, something that I also did up to 16. It’s literally a three-minute drive, gate to gate, from my house to Henry’s but up until Covid I never stepped inside the yard.

Looking for staff

At the time, I was at home, bored, when I saw an advert looking for staff. We were just coming out of the first lockdown and I had turned 17. I went in, was taught how to ride out and what not, then went from there.

The stable was full of big names that I recognised instantly: Honeysuckle, A Plus Tard, Put The Kettle On and Minella Indo.

Minella Times wasn’t the star when I started but he would later go on to win a Grand National.

I rode out in the yard every morning, then fed and watered horses in the afternoon. In 2022, I went to Cheltenham for the first time. Last year, I led up Inthepocket, who finished fourth in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.

Would you believe, I also led up Captain Guinness who was runner-up in the Queen Mother Champion Chase? I was delighted to see that horse win on Wednesday and for Sam (Cotterill) to get to lead him back in after the race.

Before Tuesday, my best day in racing had been leading Dancing On My Own up when he won at Aintree at the festival. I liked the horse, he catches your eye and you like him. Another one that I really like at home is Ain’t That A Shame. Everyone in the yard knows that he is a horse that I really took to.

He hit the crossbar so many times in big handicaps, so it was great to lead him up when he won the Thyestes Chase at Gowran Park earlier in the year. I was also with him at Aintree when he ran in the Grand National. It’s nice to be rewarded when you have faith in and stick with a horse like him.

Chance

Getting to lead up Slade Steel at Cheltenham this week was just a chance. A man by the name of Chris Dunne looks after the horse at home and rides him out every day. Brian Scott comes in to check his legs and whatever in the evening. John Ferguson usually leads up Slade Steel at the races but he didn’t travel to Cheltenham, so fortunately I stepped in for that job.

Although he was beaten by Ballyburn at Leopardstown, we always had faith he would come up the hill in front in whatever race he ran in. He had improved since his last race and was ready to rock at Cheltenham. I watched the race live with our travelling head lass Zoe Smalley and two girls who were part of Henry’s team for the week; Nym and Kym.

I wouldn’t say I get nervous but with it being the first race of the Festival and having had a false start, you could cut the tension with a knife.

We were standing down at the last hurdle where Mystical Power jumped past Slade Steel but I always knew our fella would stay. I said afterwards that it reminded me of Honeysuckle beating Love Envoi last year.

To break my Cheltenham duck and finally be the one leading back in a Festival winner was pretty unreal, something that I will never forget.

Jack was in coversation with John O’Riordan