Luke McAteer

I'm from Rathmullan in Co Donegal and I started off in my grandfather's riding school. I spent all my time there really. I rode about 30 winners pony racing. I rode for my grandfather first and for most of the lads up around Donegal. They were all very good to me after he passed away in 2015 and they all gave me a hand out. You can see the results in the weigh room - anyone who is riding winners week in and week out has been there and done it in pony racing. Those ponies take a bit of riding when you are 16 and under. When my grandfather died, I spent another year in school and then I moved down to Jim Bolger's after that.

Martin Harley was there first and he was kind of our only link from home. It just looked like a good opportunity to go down and learn, not even to sign on, just see if I wanted to really do it or not for a year first. I did just over seven years there, I did my time and I have no regrets. It was a great grounding and I wouldn't take it back - I'm glad I did my time there. There are people I met there that I would still be very friendly with today. Trainers came in to use the gallops like the late Tom Foley and Pat Foley, and I made connections there. They have all been very good to me and they still are, thank God.

I rode my first winner on Pirolo in an apprentice handicap at Fairyhouse in June 2017. That was my first ride and it was great. Jim wouldn't tie you down too much with instructions. He keeps it simple with his horses. You would never be afraid to be forward as they were always very fit and very genuine. You would trust them in a battle. Kevin Manning (former stable jockey) was brilliant and he still is. If I ever wanted to pick up the phone, I'd have no doubt that he would be on the other end. I would have watched what he was doing even in riding work. There were so many good lads in there - you had Rory Cleary, Gordon Power who was a work rider, Stephen Craine, Willie Supple and Eddie Ahern. Plenty of lads that you would look up to for their riding ability. I was watching Ronan Whelan around the time he won his Group 1 Moyglare (on Skitter Scatter at Curragh in September 2018 for Patrick Prendergast) and he was very good to ask for advice, and for a lift. He always looked after us well. Travelling Head Lad Ger Flynn would let you know what you had done wrong or right. I got on well with them all. Even in general life, they were all very good.

I rode a Group 3 winner on Flying Visit at Leopardstown in October 2020. He was a tricky two-year-old and Jim actually trained Mac Swiney to win a Group 1 the same day at Doncaster (in the Vertem Futurity Trophy Stakes), and he bred him as well. I was claiming 5lb at the time and it was great that he entrusted me with the ride. It just came that I had to leave as the opportunities weren't there anymore. I'd say riding out my claim (on Tango Flare at Fairyhouse in June 2023 for Pat Foley) was the biggest day for me because I didn't take off like a lot of apprentices did, I kind of just tipped away every year with the help of most of the lads I had ridden for since I started out - Pat Foley, Paul Flynn, Jim Bolger and James Barrett.

I rode Amemri for David Marnane in Limerick during Royal Ascot week (June 2023) and she won, and he said to me that I would probably end up riding a lot of his. When it came to it that I did start doing it, he trusted me with all his horses. It has been great since then and we had a great winter last year into this year, but even before that we had plenty of winners. Nice horses that didn't make it for the grass kind of ended up being well handicapped from maybe not handling the ground. In fairness, there was a lot of them we thought would win and others that surprised us. Amemri showed the form the yard was in when she put three in a row (in December, January and March) together at Dundalk when she probably wasn't the most consistent before.

David's easy to work for and is understanding. We work with each other rather than against each other. Your opinion is respected which is a big thing. There's a great group of people involved in MRC International (syndicate). There would be 20-40 people at the races and it is a huge day out for everyone. I think the way that it is going it is only going to get better and the quality is going to get better. Hopefully this season, or the next, we can bring them to the next level with a nice two-year-old. I'm in with David six days a week and I can also go and ride work as well. I ride work on Sunday mornings in the Curragh for whoever wants me. I keep myself busy. We have plenty of horses in the yard for the new Flat season, I think there is just over 40 horses. There's definitely more than when I started with David. I'd say there's probably 14 or 15 two-year-olds and they all seem okay at the minute. Obviously, they are not all going to be ready in the first month. If they could all come out in the middle of the season, it would be a nice place to start with them. When they are showing you a little bit before you press any buttons, you are dreaming and hoping that the next one could be the one.

I think my riding has improved over the last year or so since I've lost my claim. Hopefully, I will be noticed for a big handicap that I would be able to ride in. I've never ridden 30 winners in a year, but I've never ridden so many winners this close to the start of the year so I'd like to maybe break 30 winners. I don't have overly high expectations but, at the same time, the more they come my way, the more opportunities I'll take. I'm really looking forward to this year more than many others. I'm open to outside rides when I'm available and I'd ride work for anyone. I'm looking forward to Ja'marr. He's a Zoustar colt and won his last two starts in Dundalk before he was put away for a couple of months. Tokenomics is another horse that is showing us plenty. He didn't get the rub of the green a couple of times last year, but he has won three races and I think he could go up another bit and play in the better races.

I think the Irish racing industry is brilliant. It is probably not a job more a way of life and you really need to love it. There will be days you will be driving home thinking what's it all about, but one good day turns it all inside out. I think I have a great job and I'm really enjoying it at the minute.

Luke was in conversation with Michael Graham.

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About Michael Graham

Michael has worked in horse racing journalism for more than 15 years, having also written a weekly betting column on Gaelic football and hurling for a newspaper. He is involved in writing the My Racing Story features on this website. He spent a year in South Africa completing a Diploma in Business Administration and also studied Newspaper Journalism in Belfast. He enjoys playing 5-a-side football on a regular basis.

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