RIDING the first Grade 1 winner of my career on Le Patron at Sandown last Saturday provided the perfect end to the year. Having initially done very well when arriving in Britain over a decade ago, like most jockeys, after losing my claim I found it more difficult in recent times. Hopefully the win last weekend will have shown both trainers and owners that I have the ability to deliver at the highest level when presented with such opportunities.

I learned how to ride from Norma Burke at her local riding school at home in Co Cork. Having seen that I had a keen interest, she put plenty of time into helping me develop further. Norma was certainly a big influence during that early stage of my life.

By the age of seven, I was competing with the Duhallow Pony Club, as well as hunting with my Dad, Ger. Both he and my mother, Edel, deserve great credit for driving me around the country to various pony competitions. Dad, who worked as a plumber, managed to get me a weekend job with one of his clients, trainer Eoghan O’Grady.

From as far back as I can remember, I had been going point-to-pointing every weekend, so it was exciting to be involved first hand. Aside from mucking out, I would regularly lead up the O’Grady runners at local point-to-points.

After a year or so, I was asked if I would like to take one of the horses out on the gallops. Having made a good impression, the wheelbarrow was soon put down and I rode out from that day on. I was with the O’Gradys every weekend and school holidays right up until fifth year.

Having progressed in the saddle, I also got to ride in a few schooling bumpers. Lorna Preston, whom I knew from pony club, kindly arranged for me to spend a week’s work experience with her husband John Supple, who trained in Abbeyfeale. At the end of that period, John asked if I would be interested in spending the summer with trainer David Pipe, where his brother Gerry (Supple) was based.

My parents agreed that I could go to England for the summer, provided that I returned and sat my Leaving Cert the following year. Before those exams I took out my amateur licence; having four rides in point-to-points and one in a bumper, all for local trainer Eugene O’Sullivan. As soon as my education was completed, I went back to David Pipe full-time in July 2013.

While waiting for a licence to ride in British point-to-points, I worked as a stable lad in Pipe’s. On January 5th 2014, Joaaci, my initial ride in the UK, won his point for trainer Pat Shaw at Wadebridge. It was to be March before I had my first spin under rules, while two months after, Purple ‘N Gold credited me with a first ever win on the track, when successful for David (Pipe) at Kempton.

Teresa Clark, for whom I rode in point-to-points, also arranged for me to ride out for her brother, trainer Anthony Honeyball. That association saw me ride a second racecourse winner later that debut season, Cresswell Breeze at Taunton. In all, I spent two full seasons riding in point-to-points in Britain.

As the 2015 campaign slowed down, I found myself picking up more rides under rules. With the winners starting to add up, I established a big lead in that season’s amateur championship. By December 2016, I made the decision to turn conditional, although the amateur season went on until the following May. Fortunately, I had built up enough of a cushion to hold on and claim the amateur title. Indeed, I managed to continue the momentum to such an extent that I also finished runner-up in the conditional title race.

I had two very successful seasons; riding 41 winners that 2015/’16 campaign and 36 the during the next. My agent, Dave Roberts, managed to get me on plenty of horses for outside stables, while I continued a strong association with both David Pipe and Anthony Honeyball.

Losing claim

In March 2017, I rode out my claim at Sedgefield on Mr Clarkson for David. From that point onwards, it certainly became more difficult, as while the rides continued, the calibre of horse may not have been as strong.

However, it wasn’t all doom and gloom as I enjoyed some very good winners. Fountains Windfall, a Grade 3 handicap hurdle winner at Aintree on Grand National day (2017) was one of my bigger wins prior to last Saturday. Incidentally, that was also the year I had my first spin in the National itself.

In 2020, I rode Ramses De Teillee to win a Grade 2 hurdle at Haydock for David (Pipe), having previously won a Welsh National Trial on that same horse two years before. In 2019, I won the Caspian Caviar Gold Cup at Cheltenham on Warthog; that race, which is the feature event this Saturday in Britain, has since been renamed the December Gold Cup.

Trainer Gary Moore is based relatively close to Plumpton, Lingfield and Fontwell racecourses, so I often ride out there when in that area. I also know his sons Jamie and Josh from the weighing room. To his credit, Gary will always give me an opportunity, if his own stable jockeys are unavailable or required elsewhere on a busy day.

Last Monday, I had been down to the yard to school a few horses over fences. Gary mentioned that one of those, Le Patron, was to receive an entry at Sandown over the weekend. At the time I had no idea what sort of race he was to run in, until my agent rang me after lunch to say the horse was entered in the Grade 1 and Gary wanted me to ride.

Jane Williams, for whom I ride the majority of her string, very kindly released me so that I could take the ride on Le Patron. Despite being sent off a 16/1 outsider, I know that Gary gave the horse every chance, as he isn’t one to tilt at windmills. In the circumstances, everything went smoothly, with Le Patron travelling easily, jumping well and was leading from three out.

To win a Grade 1 race was incredible, as I didn’t ever think I’d get that opportunity. It is a huge boost for my career; for someone who has been going day in, day out over the last few years, it does wonders just in terms of raising my profile.

Riding a Grade 1 winner on television on a Saturday is what every jockey dreams of, so to have done that is very satisfying. Not only for me but for all those that have stuck by me and shown faith over the years.

David Noonan was in conversation with John O’Riordan