Alongside a raft of Wexford handlers that are coming to the fore within point-to-pointing at present, a new wave of young riders are emerging from the county, and one such promising individual, Tiernan Power, rode out his claim with an impressive four-year-old maiden winner at Loughanmore last weekend.
The 22-year-old who had struck up a successful association with Michael Murphy which brought them nine successes together, has opted for a different approach this season, having elected to go freelance, with the Loughanmore success of Cormac Doyle’s Undersupervision the product of that.
“I was with Michael (Murphy) for the last two seasons and just to try and get a few more outside rides I decided to out by myself,” said Power.
“I was getting a few outside riders, but I was finding it hard to pick up a few more. I was only really riding Michael’s horses so I said I would try open up the door a bit more and spread my wings.
“I go into Cormac Doyle’s a couple of mornings a week, Harley Dunne another couple of morning’s and then in the afternoon go into as many different yards as I can. I go into Liz Doyle on a Saturday and then I might have one day a week where I would mix it up and go to Mick Goff, James Doyle, Scobie Fitzgerald and Brian Jordan.
“I would have talked to a couple of the older jockeys about it and they said the only way to do it is to get into those yards on schooling mornings.
“I took that advice on board and took the plunge then and it is after working out, I am already after getting another four-year-old winner now for Cormac (Doyle) and I have had a few knocking on the door for Harley (Dunne). Hopefully I can get a few winners for them now that they are giving me the chance. I am delighted that I made the decision, it is probably the best decision that I have made so far.”
That victory at the Co. Antrim venue for the son of Doyen was a second success in the four-year-old division for the Wexford native following the victory of Costly Diamond at Moig South, and he is a horse that is highly thought of by connections.
“He was very good. In fairness Cormac fancied him, he had him ready to run before the lockdown in the spring, he loved him back then.
“Cormac gave him a few days away schooling and doing bits of work and I sat up on him a couple of times schooling.
“He just rang me on Friday and said he was going to send him to the north and would I ride him and it worked out. It was great to get that out of the way. When you start riding all you want to do is to ride out the claim.”
The decision to go freelance is already proving its worth with Doyle among six different trainers to have supplied his eight rides this season, including Brian Jordan, Harley Dunne, Seamus Neville, Ivan Walker and Mark Scallan, with Power gaining particular notoriety for partnering a winner at Listowel in the colours of the latter.
Costalotmore, who is owned by Scallan and trained by Richard O’Keeffe went over 30 lengths clear at the Co. Kerry venue last month to win unchallenged by a massive 39 lengths to provide Power with his second success under rules.
Costalotmore - winner by no less than 39 lengths in the finale at @ListowelRaces
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) September 23, 2020
Results & free replays %u27A1 https://t.co/GI57hUtDeF pic.twitter.com/axe27ZU862
“I would do a bit of schooling for Mark, he has always been fairly good to me. He would have been local to me when I was starting out and would have been getting me in with different yards.
“He got me into Gordon Doyle’s and that led me to ride a few for Gordon and my first winner on the track. It was great then to be able to repay Mark and ride the winner for him.”
Based in Tomhoggard just a stones throw from the point-to-point course at Lingstown, his seven-pound claim on the track will undoubtedly catch the eyes of trainers ahead of the upcoming point-to-point race day at Fairyhouse on November 10, but more immediately he will be in action at Curraghmore on Saturday.
“I am suspended on Sunday, but on Saturday I am going to Curraghmore. I ride a five-year-old Scorpion horse for Brian Jordan. I rode him in Dromahane when he was fifth and he has improved loads from it so hopefully he won’t be too far away.”
