John Gleeson

I’m 18 years of age and from Ardmore in Co Waterford and I’m currently in Leaving Cert year in St. Augustine’s College, Dungarvan.

I went racing with my father, Brian, from an early age and his involvement in racing as a broadcaster and owner/breeder was a massive factor in me taking such an interest in the sport. He had horses with John Kiely and used to bring me to John’s yard every Saturday. I began to help with mucking out in the yard and was trotting horses from the age of 12 and gradually moved out onto the gallops.

John sent me to Colligan Equestrian Centre near Dungarvan which is run by John and Louise Moloney and I did some showjumping there. The Moloneys helped me a lot technically but I had been bitten by the racing bug and was keen to get back on the gallops. Dad owned a horse called Dior and he was a great schoolmaster for me. It was great that John Kiely was still riding out at that time and he would be upsides and giving me advice as we were cantering together. He’s been a great mentor to me and is hale and hearty and keeping a watchful eye on everything. The Kielys are an amazing family of horsemen with a wealth of experience and you learn something from them every day.

John was happy that I continue to do things the right way while riding work at home and learn the ropes that way rather than going pony racing. I got my amateur licence at 16 and The Names Jock, who my father owns along with former jockey and family friend Ted Durcan, was my first ride. He finished third in the Amateur Derby at the Curragh two years ago. The following summer Dhabyah gave me my first winner when making all over 1m4f at Bellewstown and I’ll be forever grateful to her trainer, Joseph O’Brien, for that opportunity.

I can’t ride out as much at this time of year, compared to during the summer, because I’m back in school but I still try to get to John Kiely’s as often as I can in the mornings. Alternatively, I’ll go for a run or be in the gym to keep myself as fit as possible. I’m in Joseph O’Brien’s yard on Sundays.

I passed my driving test this summer which was a great relief, so I have that bit of independence now and don’t have to be asking my mam to bring me everywhere. The school is very supportive of my riding career and very understanding as well. I managed to get a couple of half-days during Listowel and it was great to come away from there with a couple of winners. I won for the second time on Thecompanysergeant in a winners’ bumper on the final day of the festival. I had rung Denis Hogan to ask about the ride on that horse at the Galway festival and he kindly put me up. He ran well to be third and I kept the ride and managed to win on him next time at Kilbeggan. I do study the entries for races that I’m eligible to ride in and then get on the phone to trainers. It’s something that has to be done and, if I do a good job, then hopefully these trainers are happy to use me again.

I’m pleased with how things have gone and my strike-rate this season is pretty healthy but it’s all about getting the opportunities on good horses. We have a nice homebred four-year-old called A Dream To Share who I’ve won two bumpers on and he’ll be back in John Kiely’s soon with a view to a spring campaign. He’s a half-brother to Raise You, who’s done so well for Joseph O’Brien this year including victories at Listed and Group 3 level. I won last year’s Amateur Derby at the Curragh on Raise You and he’s an exciting horse to ride with a serious amount of class.

It was a great thrill to win a bumper in my grandfather Liam’s colours at Ballinrobe last month on Mazyad who did well to beat previous winners on his debut and is a nice prospect. My grandfather is a great supporter of mine and watches my rides with interest. He’s been involved in breeding horses, alongside my father, for a long time.

I’ve yet to ride over fences on the track, although I’ve done plenty of schooling, but I have had plenty of rides over hurdles and Thedancingfarrier was my first winner over jumps when winning at Cork in March. He’s trained by Paul Kiely who would be local to me. That race was part of the European Gentlemens’s League for Qualified Riders and this weekend I’m riding in another leg of the series in the Czech Republic. It’s on Saturday at Pardubice and the famous cross-country chase takes place there the following day. I’m heading over with Patrick Mullins who’s riding there on Sunday and I’m looking forward to it. It should be a great experience.

At the moment I haven’t looked too far ahead and we’ll see how the Leaving Cert goes next year before I decide on what route to take in terms of career. At the moment I’m enjoying race-riding hugely and I get a great kick out of it. The lads in the weighroom have been good to me and it’s a real hive of activity in there. My schoolmates keep an eye on how I’m doing as well and several of them have come to support me when I’m riding at local tracks.

Obviously I’ll have to pick and choose my rides a bit more over the next few months because of school commitments and it’s a balancing act to combine the two things, but I have a lot of great support behind me and hopefully I can keep both trainers and teachers happy over the winter!