Tell me about your introduction and history in the racing industry.

GR: Growing up on the yard at home, it was natural for me to develop a grá for horse riding. From a young age, I competed at various events and went hunting, until I was old enough to get my amateur licence. Over the years, I was very fortunate to win five races, mostly in bumpers and over hurdles. I rode my first winner on Foildubh, one of Dad’s most successful winners back in the day at Downpatrick, beating Patrick Mullins by about a neck. Due to Covid-19 and work commitments, I stopped competing in 2021, but my passion for the sport hasn’t wavered.

SC: Coming from a large family with a mixed farm that included some horses, my brother and I developed a natural love for horses. I always dreamed of having a nice horse or being involved in racing. I managed to get involved with Graphic Equalizer with Frank Lacey, a terrific racehorse that took us to Cheltenham. Our syndicate, called Brask Syndicate, won the syndicate of the year. Graphic Equalizer won the Ladbrokes Hurdle at Leopardstown and ran in the Tote Gold Cup at Newbury. Unfortunately, he sustained an injury in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham and had to be put down, which was very emotional. He was buried on our farm. Bobby McCarthy at The Beeches Stud became a great friend and mentor, giving me confidence and advice in breeding. Although my racing activities paused for a few years due to my role in chaplaincy and pastoral care in college, my passion remained.

Shay, how did your partnership with John and Gillian come about?

My sister lives near John Ryan, and she often told me about their horse, Foildubh. Wanting to reignite my passion for racing, I sought advice from my friend Declan Donohoe, who recommended John. After visiting John with my brother-in-law, I met John and his family and was introduced to Bitview Colin, who won several races for us. With a taste of success, it was a natural progression to expand with a few more horses, leading to the formation of the Bitview Partnership.

Is there a theme behind the names of your horses?

SC: Kilashee is named after my local parish. I think it’s great when a horse with a local name wins, as it brings pride to the community. Gillian named Ferdia and Dedannan, and John named The Little Yank. Collectively, we tend to use place names and previous experiences, which seems to bring us luck.

Gillian, your Dad mentioned in an interview that you have a few of Kilashee’s relatives?

We had her brother, Kilcarry Bridge. He was initially brought to Dad to train by a close friend from Wexford. We trained him to win a point-to-point and he was later sold to the Donohue family from Cavan who kept him in training with us. As Kilcarry Bridge won numerous races, his breeder, William Delaney, made contact with us about siblings which he had for sale and one of those was Kilashee.

They’ve all got the same quirky personality, where they’re eager to get to the front and get on with it, they have a great will to race and they really enjoy the game.

She seems like a quirky mare at the races.

GR: She has a personality. She is hardy and she likes to get on with things. Shane [Fitzgerald, jockey] has built a very strong relationship with her. She lives out in the field with another horse, Father Jed, and one goes nowhere without the other. They’ve got a great partnership going and I think that has helped Kilashee start enjoying her riding out and her racing again. After she won at Killarney, I rode her out the following Monday, the declarations for Ballinrobe were on Sunday, so we said we’d give her a nice, soft morning and just see how she’s feeling. I loosened her up on the sand gallop behind the house.The first round was nice and sedate, on the second round, she grabbed a bit and took off with me! Sure enough once I pulled her up, Dad didn’t need me to tell him that she was fresh and well able to go to Ballinrobe.

Watching her run over fences at challenging courses like Killarney, it’s amazing to see how brave she is. Knowing her, it’s remarkable how such a petite animal can be so brave and gutsy. Our only concern is her size. Although she looks athletic, she’s not overly big, probably just under 16 hands. We’re hoping the handicapper won’t be too hard on her.

Tell me about Shane’s relationship with Kilashee.

GR: It’s crucial that jockeys have trust with their horses. Shane knows Kilashee’s strengths, allows her to find her own pace over the first few hurdles or fences and then they find a good rhythm from the front. I’m not sure if it was planned to be so far ahead at Kilbeggan, but we have faith with Shane and he has built  a brilliant relationship with Kilashee. He gives her a couple of breathers during the race and is always confident she’ll finish strong.

Has the industry changed for owners in the three years since you were last featured in this column?

GR: Absolutely, the facilities at race tracks have really improved in recent years. Particularly at summer racetracks. Take both Ballinrobe and Killarney, for example. The upgrades at both tracks have been fantastic. After Kilashee’s recent wins at both tracks, the reception and hospitality were just outstanding. It’s clear that the industry is heading in a positive direction, making the whole experience better for everyone involved.

SC: Ownership is now based more on how much you can afford to spend buying a horse, although the dream of competing at top levels is still alive. The market is more driven by commercial interests, and many people now want to buy success rather than breeding their own horses. We have a few broodmares and there’s great enjoyment in breeding your own horse and seeing it win, which can be just as rewarding as winning at Cheltenham.

What were the celebrations like after her wins?

SC: I live with a group of students in Athlone and I try to bring as many as I can to the races. Every night when we return home, we watch replays of the races and celebrate. When we win, a bottle of whiskey might get pulled out for a toast.

GR: Being able to attend race meets during my free time from work and to be present on track is amazing. From the excitement cheering the horses on over the final furlong, to welcoming the horses back into the winner’s enclosure as part of the winning team is just brilliant. After a win, we really enjoy the experience in the winner’s enclosure post race and like Shay, we watch the replays many times when we get home. The excitement definitely prolongs over a few days after each win. I normally go a little lighter on the whiskey, though!