Dgalwaygallivantor (Conor Stone Walsh, left) with falling Padraigs Boy © Photo Healy Racing
Conor Stone-Walsh transitioned from flat racing to riding over jumps when steered a winner on his first national hunt ride today, landing Cork's Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Hurdle on Dgalwaygallivantor (11/1).
By Noel Henley's stallion Dansant, Dgalwaygallivantor challenged on the inside at the second-last and while Padraigs Boy held every chance when falling at the last, the winner then held runner-up Housemartin by 3.75 lengths.
Stone-Walsh, who rode 10 of 28 flat winners for previous employer trainer Joseph O'Brien, said “I was struggling with my weight on the flat and when I had some winners left on my claim, I said I'd go jumping now.
“I started in Gavin Cromwell's (today's winning trainer) on Monday and am there every day. Hopefully I can build on today and ride as many winners as I can.
“My uncle Benny Walsh trains point-to-pointers so I've worked on his yard since I was 10 and I have plenty experience and I've always wanted to be a jump jockey.”
Regarding today's race he added “I wanted to follow the leaders so was further back than I wanted to be but we went very quick. I never really comfortable and was always asking him for a bit more but as soon as he started passing horses and got light, he took off.
“There was room when I jumped into space at the second-last and it became tight but he was going well enough to get through it.”
