Image © Healy Racing
Name: Jessica Grant
Age: 19
From: Kilmacow, County Kilkenny
How did you get involved with horses?
My late grandfather Pat Grant rode as a jockey. Sadly, he passed away when I was very young, but my dad, Colm, has always been involved with horses. I learned to ride when I was three or four at a local riding school and hunted with the Mullinavat Harriers growing up.
Dad would always take us point-to-pointing with him to all the local meetings and I remember getting off school early to go racing many times. My mum Linda would be afraid of horses, but she’d always come racing with us.
I have a younger sister Caitlin, who is 17, she works in Colin Bowe’s with me. My younger brother Patrick doesn’t ride at all.
My dad had a few horses in with David O’Brien to break, and it was David that got us more involved in the racing side of things. I rode on the pony racing circuit as I got older. I rode no winners but it was great experience.
What was the first racehorse you ever sat on?
Yes, I was about 13 years old and it was in David O’Brien’s, a mare called Grinn, she was out of a mare called Grinneas. Dad and my uncle Martin owned her. She was the quietest horse in the yard at the time.
Where do you work full-time?
I have worked in Colin Bowe’s for the last three years and ride out for David when I have any free time and on Saturdays. It was David that got me into Colin’s, to be fair he has been very good to me.
How did the ride on Roman Parish come about?
David had Roman Parish in the yard for other owners and they wanted to get rid of him as he is a bit of a character. David recommended him to my dad and said he jumped well and would be a nice lad for me to get around on.
Dad bought him in July. We ride him out at the beach a lot and try to keep him sweet. We thought that the race at Tinahely might suit him.
Dad bought him in July. We ride him out at the beach a lot and try to keep him sweet. We thought that the race at Tinahely might suit him.
Were you expecting Roman Parish to run well?
He was second on our first spin out at Castletown Geoghegan, but he is a total rogue. He can run well one day and then the next day throw the rag at it. I didn’t expect too much from him but was hopeful that he would at least run respectable. When we saw that there were only four runners in the race, I thought we would have a good chance.
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Can you describe the feeling of riding your first point-to-point winner?
I was delighted to win it in my parent’s colours and for David as well. David has brought us up, he is like a granddad to us all. Mum and Dad would move a mountain for us so it’s so special to ride my first winner for them all.
Were your family there on the day?
My mum, dad, brother and boyfriend were there on the day. My sister Caitlin chose to go off to a tractor run instead!
We all met with my nanny and went to the pub for a few drinks afterwards, the Camogie club were all in the pub when we got there, and they were all cheering for me too.
Do you know what the plan is for Roman Parish now?
We will enter him in the winner of one at Curraghmore. He’s come out of the race sound and well, so we will see how it goes.
Was it always the plan to take out your license?
When I started with David, he mentioned it and he had a nice mare to give me a few spins in bumpers. It was always the plan for me when I started pony racing.
How many track rides have you had?
I’ve had 14 rides in bumpers, all for David. The closest I finished was third on a nice mare Dansanttothetun at Thurles back in February.
Who is your biggest influence in racing?
I’d have to say Sean Flanagan, he used to ride all our track horses, so I would look up to him a lot and he would be very helpful.
Is there anyone you turn to for advice?
There are lots of people in the yard that are so good to me.
Colin is very good at giving me advice and helping me with my schooling, so is his assistant trainer Brendan Walsh. All the lads are great, Barry O’Neill and Rob James especially, they will all help you improve with tips and advice.
I’d probably go to Barry the most, I’d ask him to watch a race with me and give me any pointers. It’s lovely that he takes the time to help me and I’m very grateful.
Have you any interests or hobbies outside of racing?
I used to play a lot of Camogie. I broke my collarbone in a fall in February and haven’t got back to it yet this season. I played for County Kilkenny in the underage team and I play for Kilmacow on the junior team.
What are your ambitions for the rest of the season?
I just want to try and keep improving and if I can get a couple more winners that would be a bonus.
As a bonus for talented new point-to-point riders who feature in p2p.ie series of NextGen articles, Dungar Quality Oats will sponsor a special draw where one of the riders will win a cash prize of €500. All NextGen featured jockeys who have ridden their first point-to-point winner will be automatically entered into this draw. The draw will be conducted and prize winner announced at the end of the point-to-point season.
