Next Generation | Rider
Name: Brian Dunleavy
Age: 17
Area: Dungourney, Cork
Brian Dunleavy is the latest rider to feature in our Next Generation feature following his first career success between the flags at Carrigtwohill on Sunday aboard the Alan Ahern-trained Here Comes Johny in the five-year-old and upwards confined maiden.
Dunleavy rode his first winner in the pony racing circuit at the age of 13 when guiding Crystal Lady to win a 14.2hh race on the beach at Courtmacsherry, Co. Cork in July 2015.
The 17-year-old, who rides out for the Ahern brothers in Dungourney full-time, was delighted to get a winner for Alan Ahern on Sunday and he is looking forward to the rest of the season where he hopes to gain more opportunities.
Are you from a racing background?
Yes, my father Liam, who is secretary of the Dungourney point-to-point always kept a couple of point-to-pointers at home and that’s where my interest in horses came from. I grew up going to the point-to-points with him.
How did you get started in Racing?
I started off riding ponies and then I got into pony racing when I was about 13. I rode on the pony racing circuit for four years and it was a great experience, I loved it. I rode in over 250 races with a handful of those rides resulting in winners. It was great to gain so much experience at such a young age, I learned invaluable lessons such as being able to get out of sticky situations and it helped get my racing brain working.
I rode my first winner in pony racing for Ernst Tyner, who is a brother to the trainer Robert Tyner and I only picked up the ride about half an hour before the race. Ben Coen, who is now riding on the flat, was supposed to ride her and he couldn’t make it, so I got the call up then. She won by a nose on the beach in Courtmacsherry, so it was great to have that success at such a young age.
Can you tell me about a racing memory that stands out for you?
I have a mare at home called Kind Witness, she’s only about 15.3 hands in height and we run her away in point-to-points every second week for fun. I rode her at Inch in the confined maiden last year and she finished third, with two geldings ahead of her, so it was great to see her run so well and get such a good spin off her and for me that would have to be one of the most enjoyable races I have ridden in, bar on Sunday when I had the winner.
Where are you based at the moment?
I ride out for Denis and Alan Ahern, who are brothers based down in Dungourney Co. Cork. I also ride out for Jimmy Mangan and would do a good bit of schooling for him. I also do schooling for Batty O’Connell. Between the four of them and my own at home, I am kept busy. They have all been very good to me, so I can’t complain.
Have you ridden out for anyone else to date?
I went and rode out at Gordon Elliott’s last year for a couple of weeks and it was a great experience, but I decided to come back home as there was a lot of demand for riders at the time in point-to-points, and I felt there would be more opportunities for me in Cork.
You were delighted with your win on Sunday?
It was great to get the ride on him, he had run twice before with no joy, it was my first time on him on Sunday, but I knew the horse from riding him out at Alan’s (Ahern). He ran in Tyrella two weeks earlier and he needed that run, which stood to him as he was very sharp at Carrigtwohill and he won easily on the day.
It was great to get off the mark and I was delighted to get the win for the Clondun Partnership, who own him and for Alan Ahern the handler, who puts a great deal of work into him.
Alan only has about six in training, so it’s great for him to get a winner as it is not an easy task to achieve, as it is gone so competitive in point-to-points these days.
Have you ambitions for this season?
I started off riding in March 2019 and rode in 21 races last season. I rode every Sunday in the spring, so I suppose I want to continue riding as much as I can every weekend and try and get my name out there as much as I can.
My aim is to do more schooling for outside lads. I think it’s a great way of gaining more contacts and experience, and then hopefully I might pick up some spare rides from that on the days of racing.
I also had another aim of having a winner before I turn 18 in February, so I am delighted I have achieved that goal with my win on Sunday.
What do you think about the opportunities for novice rider’s in point-to-pointing?
I feel that there are great opportunities for novice riders in point-to-points at the moment. There is nearly a novice rider race every weekend and they have a good variety of novices races, which is a great help to young lads like myself. It provides opportunities to ride winners and that’s how you get going.
What is your favourite track to ride at?
Ballynoe is a local track of mine and is a great's to ride around as it’s a big galloping track.
Who has been your biggest influence in racing?
Davy Russell, I admire the way he rides in races, he has a way with horses, he can get horses that probably shouldn’t win, to win and that’s what separates him from all the other jockeys. He’s a magic man up on a horse.
Do you do any sport outside of racing?
I was playing hurling up until about two years ago, but unfortunately, I don’t have time anymore with the horses.
