Next Generation | Rider
Name: Ross McLeigh
Age: 21
From: Downpatrick, Down
Ross McLeigh enjoyed his second-career success aboard Dento Des Obeaux in the six-year-old and upwards maiden at Kirkistown last Saturday. The Downpatrick native was seen to good effect here, having got first run on the field early on and he stormed home 20 lengths clear of his rivals.
McLeigh, who has a background in show-jumping and hunting, rode in his first point-to-point at Moira in November 2015 aboard Liam Lennon's Liannastarr. He has ridden in races for the likes of Tony Martin, Gavin Cromwell and Gordon Elliott and it was that Moira course which provided him with his first success aboard Caroline McCaldin`s Ballela Storm in April 2019.
In his fifth season riding, the 21-year-old has a wealth of riding experience and with the backing of the Colin McBratney yard, the novice rider is looking forward to the rest of the season.
Are you from a racing background?
I’m not from a racing background at all, my father is a mechanic and my mother is a hairdresser. Some of my family members keep half-bred’s and trotting horses and that’s where my interest in horses came from.
When I was younger, I had ponies and I used to show jump and hunt quite a bit. I also did a small bit of pony racing, I had about 15 rides, but I didn’t stay at it too long.
How did you get started in racing?
When I was still in school at about 15, I started riding out for a friend of mine Christopher McCarten, he had a couple of point to pointers. Eventually I started riding out for Brian Hamilton, who is only down the road from me here at home and then when I finished school, I started riding out for Colin McBratney full-time.
I have been riding out fulltime for over five years. I didn’t take out my licence during the 2017/18 season, last February I got it back out and then in April I rode my first winner at Moira for Caroline McCaldin, so I was delighted with that.
Where are you based now?
I am based with Colin McBratney full-time for the last two years. I moved down south for four years and during that time we always kept in contact and I would have come back to ride work for him, so he has been very good to me.
I school for Jerry Cosgrove and Patrick Turley from time to time also.
Have you ridden out for anyone else to date?
I worked down south for four years and I was based with Gordon Elliott, Tony Martin and Gavin Cromwell. I had a couple of rides on the track when I was with them. I rode in a bumper for Gordon Elliott and I rode at the Galway Festival for Tony Martin and I also rode in a maiden hurdle at Leopardstown on Stephens day for Gavin Cromwell, so it was great to get that kind of experience.
You were delighted with your win on Dento Des Obeaux on Saturday?
I have a had a good season so far, I have had a good couple of rides, so it was great to get off the mark on Saturday. I am still on such a high from getting the winner, that it made riding out in the snow this morning bearable.
We weren’t expecting him to win, so that nearly made it all the better when he did come across the finish line in front. When I was turning into the home straight with him I thought I had another circuit to go, he was going that well.
Had you ridden Dento Des Obeaux before the race?
I ride him out at Colin’s (McBratney) during the week and I have also ridden him twice before in point to points, the first day out he finished fifth at Loughanmore in October and then he pulled up at the meet in Kirkistown in November.
He is a quirky horse, he can also be quite keen at times, so he’s hard to predict and you never really know what to expect from him.
What’s the plan with him now?
He will head to Tyrella next month and then after that the owner Liam Gibney is keen to go down the hunter chase route, he is from Downpatrick and he would love to run him in the hunter chase there at the end of March. So, if things all go to plan then that’s what will happen with him.
Do you know the owner of Dento Des Obeaux Liam Gibney?
I know his son Jay (Gibney) very well he rides out with me at Colin’s (McBratney). I grew up riding ponies with Jay and we also would have done a bit of pony racing together.
What are your ambitions now for the season?
I would love to get another winner, so I will keep the head down and hopefully I can achieve that by the end of the season.
What do you think about the opportunities for novice rider’s in point-to-pointing?
It’s great to have the novice riders’ races there to give younger riders better opportunities but I feel there is not enough of them in the North, a lot of them seem to be on down in the south.
How about any other novice rider you think might be up and coming?
Jordan Gainford is great rider, he has a good racing brain and he seems to have the whole package.
Who has been your biggest influence in racing or who would you look up to?
Declan Lavery has been one of the biggest influences on my career. I watched him ride as a kid and think he is a very talented rider.
I worked with Declan when I rode out in Brian Hamilton’s and he has always been very good to me and still to this day he will give me advice and try and help me out whenever he can.
Do you do any sport outside of racing?
I played Gaelic football when I was younger but unfortunately, I don’t have time to do that anymore with the horses.
How do you relax away from racing?
I like to go out for a drink or two!
