Our columnist picks out seven horses who have helped to shape his career - starting with one of the first ones he rode in England.
Here’s a list of horses I’ve really enjoyed riding throughout my career. I’m not saying they’re the best, nor my favourite, but seven who certainly helped along the way.
FREE GIFT
When I first came over from Ireland and I joined the boss Robert Alner and his wife Sally, he was a point-to-pointer. I won a total of 17 races on him, a combination of points, hunter chases and chases under rules. He was the horse who got me going.
He was wonderful to me. He was a little free in his early days and it took a while to get to know him but for some reason we really gelled. I’ve never won as many races on any horse since. I rode him in the Foxuhunters and Cheltenham and finished seventh or eighth. He was just about favourite that day but wasn’t quite right afterwards.
I loved riding for the boss and Sally, as I do Simon Munir and Mr Isaac Souede. Wonderful people.
REVE DE SIVOLA
When I joined Nick Williams he was a great horse for me. I won five times on him including some good prizes as a novice hurdler, most notably the Challow at Newbury and the big Grade One at Punchestown in April.
Later in his career we won a Long Walk together too. He was a wonderful horse, very laidback and so brave as you can see in his races. He gave his all and never knew when he was beaten.
TOP NOTCH
My favourite horse in training by a long way. We’ve gelled, he was one of the first good horses I rode for Simon and Isaac and he’s a joy to be around. He has a lovely personality, he’s not the biggest in the world but has a massive heart and a wonderful attitude.
He’s very kind, a wonderful nature, there’s no badness in him, he’s just very straightforward, likeable and good looking too. He’s very good as well, we’ve had some success along the way in races like the Scilly Isles, Christy 1965 Chase, Oaksey Chase and just this season the Peterborough at Huntingdon.
BRISTOL DE MAI
He’s a nice, strapping, grey who loves soft ground. I’ve done very well on him and he’s a horse who you can just get into a zone on. It almost feels like you’re out hunting for the day. He’s straightforward and wonderful galloper and jumper. He’s very uncomplicated and I look forward to seeing him every time I go to Nigel Twiston-Davies’.
I’ve ridden him in 29 races and the only time I didn’t I was injured in December 2015 and Sam Twiston-Davies won on Bristol at Leicester. He’s only nine and still a relatively young horse.
CELESTIAL HALO
I had some wonderful days on him during my time with Paul Nicholls and winning the Prix La Barka Hurdle at Auteuil was really special. We won good races in England too, the Elite Hurdle at Wincanton, Champion Hurdle Trial at Haydock and Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury. He was a really good hurdler.
L’AMI SERGE
He gave me a day I’ll never forget when winning the French Champion Hurdle. I loved that, it was so special. Simon and Isaac have horses in France and were there and he’s trained by Nicky Henderson. It was perfect.
NEPTUNE COLLONGES
Talking of days that will never fade…obviously his win in the 2012 Grand National is at the top of that list. I didn’t have any history with him, I actually only sat on him for the first time on the Monday before Aintree but what he did five days later means I’ll never forget him. Read my account of that day here...