Name: Jordan Ratcliffe
Age: 22
From: Portlaoise, Laois
First Winner: Boro Melody
How did you get started with horses?
I started riding ponies in Stradbally Equestrian when I was about six or seven and then I took a break for a few years to play rugby. When I was in school my English teacher in school was Kieran Cotter's wife and I started going in to him a few Saturday's and then when Covid hit I started going in to him full time and that is how I started with the racehorses.
I spent a summer in Willie Mullins' also - that was a great experience to work with some top jockeys and horses I got to sit on El Fabiolo a few times but to try and get race rides I had to try and spread myself around in different yards.
What is your first racing memory?
No one in my family are horsey but we used to go to the local point-to-point in Stradbally. I have a lot of memories there so I would love to ride a winner there.
Who are you primarily based with?
I am not long back from an exchange programme in Michigan State University. They have an Arab breeding programme and a lot of western horses, so I got to learn a whole different way of riding - it was different to come home and jump into a racing saddle again!
At the moment I am on work placement with Stuart Crawford, but I am in third year at CAFRE in Enniskillen, I am studying Equine management, so it is a mix of management, science and practical horse care.
When I finish college, I would like to stay riding and really make a career out of riding, but it is always a good idea to have a degree to fall back on.
What was it about racing that was the attraction?
When I was younger I always loved the cross country jumping and going fast. We used to do cross country where the point-to-point is held so I guess I got a bit of the bug for it through that.
How did you come about riding for Corrie Auchterlonie?
She looks after the point-to-pointers up in CAFRE - there are about seven schoolmasters and a few younger horses. We get to ride them out before college, but she has helped me out a lot and given me a lot of support.
What is the plan for Boro Melody going forward?
He will probably run in another winner’s race, hopefully in Stradbally it would be great to win on him at my home track.
Who would be your biggest influence in racing?
Well starting off with Kieran he gave me a lot of help and then I would have a lot to thank Corrie Auchterlonie for as she’s helped me a lot and it was really great to ride my first winner for her.
Do you have any interests outside of racing?
I like rugby - I played when I was younger and I would follow the six nations and all the big rugby games.
