Andrew Phelan is the latest rider to feature in our Next Generation section.
19-year-old Andrew was in the winner’s enclosure at Stradbally on Sunday, when he steered his father’s Batchelors Walk to victory in the older maiden for novice riders.
This was Andrews’s sixth ride in point-to-points having made his debut aboard the seven-year-old at Dungarvan in January. Andrew is currently in his second year of an Auctioneering and Valuation degree in DIT.
Name: Andrew Phelan
Age: 19
Area: Fethard, Co. Tipperary
How did you become involved in racing?
All of my family have been involved in horses all of their lives so I grew up in it. My parents got me a pony as a child and started off getting lessons when I was about five or six and then began to do more of it.
I did a lot of hunting with the Tipperary Foxhounds over the years as well as show jumping which I competed up to 1m 20.
My family own Derryluskin Stud Farm so we have always had a mixture of broodmares, breakers, young horses and a few horses to run also.
When I was about 12 or 13 I started to ride out properly for Dad and I then spent a summer with my uncle Pat Phelan who trains in Epsom.
For the past three summers I have worked for Joe Murphy in Fethard and also ride out there at the weekends when I am home from college.
What's your favourite course?
I don’t really have a favourite point-to-point track but as racecourses go, I would love to ride a winner around Punchestown someday.
What was the best day of your racing life?
Riding my first winner on Sunday has definitely been the highlight so far especially because it was for Dad and that is was aboard one of our own horses.
We have Batchleors Walk since he was a yearling as my parents know his breeder, Robin Moyles so I have done a good bit with the horse over the last few years.
Do you do any sport outside of racing?
I use to play rugby for my school, Rockwell College as well as my local club in Fethard but I don’t have as much time anymore between college and riding out.
Do you own any horses of your own?
I have a nice two-year-old by Doyen who we bought at last year’s Tattersalls Ireland February Sale who will hopefully be sold next summer as a store.
He is from a nice family which includes the Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Long Run and also his dam is a half-sister to the dam of Getabird.
Give us a horse to watch out for?
We have a nice mare called Petuna who has already won four races for us both over hurdles and on the flat. She will hopefully be running again shortly so is one to look forward to over the summer.
Who’s your biggest influence?
My parents have always helped me with my riding. Johnny Barry has also been a great support for me. I got to know him when he was riding out in Joe Murphy’s over the summer and he always gave me advice and help with my riding.
What is your first racing memory?
My Dad bred the 1993 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner, Jodami so although I may not have been around to see him win the race I always remember my family watching replays of the race at home and hearing stories about him. I also remember going over to visit his trainer’s yard, Peter Beaumont as a child with my parents.
What are your plans for the future?
I am hoping to go to America this summer to ride out for a trainer for a few weeks and then work at the sales for a while.
When I come home I will be in my final year in college so I would like to be able to continue combining my studies and riding in point-to-points during the season as I really enjoy both of them.
To read about some of the other featured riders in this series click on the link below.
www.p2p.ie/content.php
Andrew Phelan recorded his first career success aboard Batchelors Walk at Stradbally on Sunday. We caught up with Andrew today to find out more about the 19-year-old DIT student.
— p2p.ie (@irishp2p) May 8, 2018
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