LAST week, I was named as one of two recipients of the Gerry Dilger Equine Scholarship on the Irish National Stud Course.

It was a nice surprise to receive the award, as the course is so well-recognised globally and always produces high quality graduates.

I have been riding as an amateur jockey for a few years, but wanted to have something to fall back on when my race-riding days are over. I have always had a huge interest in the breeding side of the industry, so I saw the Irish National Stud Course as the ideal gateway.

My family moved up to Lismullen (Co Meath) from Dublin, when I was very young. On my first day in a new school, I sat beside a fella called Jack Martin. We have been friends since that day in second class and continue to be so. Jack’s dad, Pat Martin, is a well-known trainer.

It wasn’t long before I was going in to the yard with Jack. Soon, we were both riding ponies and getting the odd sit on one of the quieter racehorses. We did a lot of pony club and eventing towards the end of primary school, into our early teens.

At 14, I spent a summer riding out for Noel Meade. It was a great experience and, like Pat before him, I learned plenty there. I went back doing weekends with Pat once that summer was over, staying with him until I finished school at 18. I went up to the sales with Jack one afternoon and bought a mare for 3k.

I didn’t have that kind of money at all, so my dad had to pay for it! My mother loved her and she more or less became her horse. Put into training with Pat, Bingo Queen was her first runner on the track, as well as mine as an amateur jockey. I had 10 rides under rules before I rode my first winner, in a point-to-point. After my Leaving Certificate, I started working full-time for Gavin Cromwell. On just my second ride for him, I rode Arverne to win at Tinahely in January 2024. I spent about a year-and-a-half with Gavin. He was very good to me and I’ll always be thankful that he gave me my first winner.

Just over a year ago, I moved on to trainer John McConnell. I was based with John full-time, until I started the Irish National Stud Course earlier this month. I will continue to go into his yard at weekends and on holidays.

From about six or seven rides for John, I have had two winners and a placed horse. Kevin’s Pride, on whom I won my first race under rules at Kilbeggan in August, was bought by leading owners Simon Munir and Isaac Souede.

Ira Hayes was my second winner at Wexford in October. At 6’2”, I am quite tall for a jockey. I was never going to have a career on the flat, so going down the amateur route seemed the logical decision. Even at that, I know I can’t ride forever, so it’s important to have something to fall back on.

I have a couple of breakers and pre-trainers for John at home and also bought a couple of three-year-olds with my partner Tara. Bingo Queen, the mare that gave me my first ride on the track, has had a foal and is back in foal to Order Of St George. Her half-sister Slotty Dotty won recently, so at least that does something for the pedigree.

I have always had an interest in breeding, going back to when Jack and myself were in Castleknock College.Jack’s grandfather was a big breeder, who owned Hilltown Stud. It’s only a short distance from the college, so we would have been in and out there all the time. He would have brought us down the fields to look at the young horses.

I started to follow the breeding of the foals, eagerly waiting for them to appear on the racecourse for Pat. I retained that interest in pedigrees over the years, so the Irish National Stud Course really appealed.

It is a course, which is well-recognised within the industry worldwide. There were over 400 applicants for just 24 places on this year’s course. I was lucky enough to be selected, so I had to do it. I’d love to keep riding for as long as possible, as I really love it too. Hopefully, I can work away in John’s throughout the programme and pick up some more opportunities. Training would be the long-term dream, but I will need something to help fund that dream. Pinhooking is one area that I have a real interest in, so I’m hoping that through that, I may eventually be able to afford the training career.

I’ve recently put in a gallop at home in Carlow Cross (Meath), so that has emptied the back account! If I was fortunate enough to fall upon a nice yearling in the coming years, I’d love to be able to train horses for a living.

Jordan was in conversation with John O’Riordan