Brian Lawless began his riding career between the flags over three years ago aboard his father, Gerard Lawless’s, Delgany Star at Borris House in December 2016.
In that time since he has partnered over 130 rides for some well-known handlers such as Donnchadh Doyle and John Nallen etc, allowing him to build up a number of good contacts, a requirement needed to succeed and gain valuable experience in this competitive industry.
“Schooling is very important to build up contacts, I try and school for as many lads as I can, to try and get my name out there and hopefully that will lead to riding some more winners,” explains Lawless.
The 21-year-old has been enjoying a successful season since it began back in October, having already ridden a total of seven winners, bringing his total career winners to 16.
“I am delighted to have ridden seven winners at this stage of the season, I didn’t really have a plan, the aim was to try and ride as many winners as I could, its worked out well so far, hopefully, I can get another few by the end of the season.”
The Ballyraggett card on Sunday provided the Wicklow based rider with two of those seven winners, whilst also supplying him with his second career double.
The Paul Stafford-trained Whisper In The Court provided Lawless with the opening leg of his double in the five-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden when rallying well in the closing stages to beat Simply Supreme by five lengths.
Lawless didn’t have long to wait before he was back in the winners’ enclosure as he quickly doubled up in the five-year-old and upwards adjacent maiden when his mount Minella Lightning (pictured below) came home a distance clear of the seven runners that began the race with him.
“It was nice to get another double, I was delighted. I’ve been riding out for John Nallen for over two years and Adam Short put me in contact with Paul Stafford, I schooled both horses beforehand, so it was great to get a win for them both.”
His first career double came earlier in the season at Damma House courtesy of Lough Derg Lyric and Ryan’s Cave both of whom are handled by his father Gerard, who currently has seven pointers in training.
“My father runs a livery yard full-time that has hunters and showjumpers along with about seven pointers in training. He always kept a couple of pointers when he was younger but only got back into them a couple of years ago when I started riding in points to help me get going.”
The Wicklow native is kept busy during the week as he is based with a number of different handlers, whilst also trying to ride out at home for his father in the mornings before he heads to work.
“I ride out for Donnchadh Doyle three days a week, I also ride out for John Nallen, Peter Croke, Johnny Kinsella and I am with John Fitzpatrick every afternoon. I try and ride out at home if I can before I head off to work and schooling also has to be fitted in somewhere in between all that.”
From a young age, Lawless has been involved in horses and his interest in point-to-points grew from his father Gerard, who rode as an amateur himself in his younger years.
“I always knew I wanted to be a jockey, dad rode a little bit when he was younger and I am very passionate about racing, so I couldn’t see myself doing anything else, to be honest.”
With only a couple of weeks left in the season, Lawless hopes he can end it on a good note, by hopefully adding to his tally of winners.
“The plan is to keep doing what I am doing, doing lots of schooling and riding out and hopefully that means getting more rides and winners.”
