Wexford native Jack Hendrick was seen to good effect when partnering his first winner aboard Would You Bypass in the mares’ maiden at Tinahely last Sunday. The 19-year-old is in his third season riding and has had 25 rides between-the-flags to date.
The winner is trained by Cormac Doyle, for whom the novice rider now works for. With the support of this yard and a number of other local trainers behind him, Hendrick could be a name to keep an eye on this season.
Next Generation | Rider
Name: Jack Hendrick
Age: 19
Area: Mayglass, County Wexford.
Are you from a racing background?
My father and my grandfather would have always kept hunters and half-breds. I would also be a second cousin to the Codd’s, they are only up the road from me at home. The involvement with racehorses would have come from them.
I grew up hunting, show jumping and pony clubbing, nearly since I could walk really.
Was it through the Codd’s that you would have got going riding out then?
When I was still in school I started riding out for William Codd, mainly at holidays and a few Saturdays as well.
When I left school after my leaving cert, I went to work for William full-time for around 18 months. After William passed away, I spent six-months with Johnny Fogarty.
Who are you based with now?
I am working for Cormac Doyle now this season.
We have nearly 40 riding out, 15 of them would be for the Autumn and the rest then are three-year-olds. Between us we would ride eight or nine lots a morning in there.
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Do you school or ride out for anyone else?
I am with Darragh Berry in the afternoons, I try and ride work and school for whoever else I can as well.
You rode your first winner aboard Would You Bypass on Sunday, a mare you had ridden a couple of times previously. It must have been a great feeling to get off the mark?
She is a mare who has been a bit unlucky, I think she is a better mare than her form suggest, as she was running well the few times she fell.
She is jumping well now at the minute and it was good that it came together for her.
It was great to get the first winner out of the way. Cormac has been very good to me since I started, I have had plenty of rides for him and he isn’t afraid to put me up.
Have you ambitions for this season?
Just to keep riding away, get as many rides as I can and hopefully the winners will follow then.
What are your plans for the future?
My weight is good, I will stay amateur for the moment and see how things go.
What do you think about the opportunities for novice rider point-to-pointing?
The older maidens are very quiet this season, but a lot of the novice riders’ races are opens now. I suppose it’s a good chance for young lads to ride horses that have plenty of experience.
How about another rider you think might be up-and-coming?
There are actually two lads that are down my direction that I think are very good. Jamie Scallan would be a good friend of mine and he is based with Sean Doyle. I think he is up and coming and he has ridden five or six winners already.
Tiernan Power is another lad I would be friends with and he is riding a few winners as well. He is based with Ashleigh and Michael Murphy and they are having a great season.
The two lads are hard workers and are two good riders.
Give us a horse to watch out for?
There is Kapgarde three-year-old in Cormac’s that could be one to watch out for there after Christmas.
Is there a trainer we should be watching out for?
Cormac is very good at what he does, he is getting his winners and has them right when they run.
Who has been your biggest influence in racing or who would you look up to?
When I started William was a great help to me. Jamie has been very good to me as well and they taught me everything really.
When I went to Fogarty’s, Mikey was there and he would help you with what you’re doing right or wrong and try and help you to improve every day.
Do you do any sport outside of racing?
I play a bit of hurling and football for my local club St Vincent’s. I didn’t really play as much this year as I was concentrating on the horses.
What's the best piece of advice you've ever been given?
Just to keep your head down, keep working and the results will follow.
Next Generation | Rider - Jack Hendrick
— p2p.ie (@irishp2p) November 21, 2018
19-year-old Jack Hendrick partnered his first career success aboard the Cormac Doyle – trained Would You Bypass at Tinahely last Sunday. Read the full story here %u27A1%uFE0F https://t.co/UWzJWIi1Fw pic.twitter.com/WHlhN5uUTu
