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The horse you'd want to be on for the Guineas
My Racing StorySponsored By Tote
I'm from a town called Ballyare just outside Letterkenny in Donegal. I never rode a horse until I was 13 years of age. Just out of pure boredom during Covid-19, I walked up to my uncle's place where he had a few point-to-pointers and different things, and I got up on one and that was it. I've never looked back since then. Donegal is becoming a more popular area for jockeys. Even when you go back home now, you see younger kids going to riding schools, so it is definitely becoming more popular.
Once I learned the basics, a man called Johnny Holian took me on. I used to go to him in the mornings before school and I used to ride in pony races for Adrian Browne who would be Dylan Browne McMonagle's uncle. Every morning before school, I would go down and ride one or two and then go to school and then go back up to the uncle. Then every Sunday we would go off around Ireland. I was very lucky that my parents were very supportive and never questioned why I was going there. That's just how I got going.
In a rapidly changing Ireland there is comfort in the knowledge that events like the Listowel Harvest Festival remain more or less the same as they have been for generations.
I’m sure the inaugural Listowel Festival back in 1862 was a far cry from the modern version in many aspects. Back then there were no permanent structures on the island racecourse and the event was run over just three days.
- Phenomenal winner in 2025, DARYZ (1) put any fears to bed about his Ascot run when making short work of the Gr.2 Prix Foy. Ideally-drawn and, according to his trainer, even better on fast ground, he will logically start as favourite. Winner of the Gr.1 Grand Prix de Paris (Gr.1) by a whisker after suffering interference, MALTESE CROSS (14) subsequently won the Great Voltigeur Stakes. He has yet to finish outside the first two in seven starts and possesses a superb turn of foot. Blessed with plenty of stamina, he looks the main danger. Seventh in the 2025 edition, KALPANA (9) returns to ParisLongchamp better than ever. She has enjoyed an ideal preparation, is drawn next to DARYZ (1), and can target a place on the podium. BENVENUTO CELLINI (12) is capable of better than his last two results would suggest. He won the Irish Derby with ease and is drawn rails-side. Ten years after Found, he could give Aidan O'Brien another Arc victory. A little late coming into himself, VARANDIR (11) ran out an impressive winner of the Gr.2 Prix Niel. He still has plenty of improvement to come and could complete a memorable weekend for the Aga Khan colours.
