Image © Healy Racing
Twenty-two-year-old Midleton amateur James Coffey has had a remarkable run recently, booting home three winners within three weeks. Coffey, who is enjoying the best season of his career, has already surpassed his total of two winners from each of the previous two campaigns, with three on the board before the Christmas break. He admits the run of form has exceeded all expectations.
“I can’t really believe how well it’s gone,” he says. “The last three weeks have been fantastic.”
The sequence began at Boulta on 22nd November aboard The Grey Venture for Terence O’Brien, a yard Coffey has long been associated with and where he still rides three days a week. That success was followed a week later by Lady Cosmo for Terence Leonard at Ballindenisk, before Sworn Duty delivered a third win at Dromahane for Paul and Andy Pierce, the mare returning from over 19 months off the track.
Coffey, who jokes that he is now a part-time “Wexican”, enjoyed a dream start to his new partnership with the Pierce team.
“Starting off with an 100 percent strike rate isn’t bad,” he laughs. “I’d been going down to them in Wexford once a week since August. They were very straight with me and told me it wouldn’t be a waste of time going there. Thankfully the mare proved that. She’s a good one.”
Coffey has been steadily expanding his network in recent months, particularly around Wexford, where a gap in the riding ranks opened following Eoin Staples turning professional and Sean Staples heading to Australia. Coffey acted quickly.
“I got wind Sean was going and said I’d chance making a phone call. I started going down there one day a week and loved it. The lads have been brilliant to me.”
Lady Cosmo’s win at Ballindenisk also carried significance, having been placed for Coffey last season.
“I was delighted to ride a winner for Terence Leonard. He always has his horses spot on. People like the late Mikey O’Connor and Michael Kenneally had put in a word for me, and that ride where I finished second aboard Sampoet for him at Rathcannon last year got me going for him.”
Despite this growing book of outside rides, O’Brien’s yard remains the core of Coffey’s career, and the victory on The Grey Venture was particularly meaningful.
“That meant an awful lot. They took me under their wing from the start. O’Brien’s assistant trainer Michael Brown and Donal McAuley have been great, while Mikey Kenneally and Darragh Allen were a massive help showing me the ropes and getting me going. Getting a winner for Terence is always special.”
The friendly rivalry with Darragh Allen remains alive and well too.
“I was giving Darragh a few digs the other morning,” Coffey quips. “He’s already won a Southern title and I’m actually ahead of him in it at the moment, so I’ll keep reminding him while I can!”
Coffey is also now too old to contest the Under-21 title, but he insists he will be watching the race closely.
“I’d love to see Jack Collins give it a rattle. He’s a good young lad. He was unlucky to break his collarbone earlier this week, but he’ll be back soon and I hope he goes close.”
Coffey’s weekly schedule is among the busiest of any young rider in the country. He works Monday and Tuesday mornings with Terence O’Brien, schools in Glencairn on Tuesday afternoons, Wednesday with Paul Power, Thursday mornings with Paul and Andy Pierce before heading to Rob James, and Fridays with James Hannon and Sean Allen before schooling at Boulta. Saturdays bring another work morning at O’Brien’s, and any remaining daylight is used to ride the horse he keeps at home.
“It’s busy,” he says, “but every place gives me something different. Paul Power is brilliant for jumping technique, Terence’s is home for me, and the Wexford lads have been unbelievable. I’m learning the whole time.”
Coffey’s grounding in racing runs deep. He is a grandson of well-known handler Donal Coffey, who, even at 90, remains an active source of advice.
“He doesn’t get to the races now, but he’s always checking the results. Nothing slips past him. Without him I probably wouldn’t be involved in horses at all. It all started from him.”
Coffey is appreciative of his parents and extended family who follow him all over the country.
“They’re getting a great kick out of it. I’m lucky that way, they are very supportive.”
Coffey graduated from RACE in 2019, spending time with Michael Grassick and Michael Halford on the Curragh during his placement. He also spent a year with Willie Mullins, gaining experience, and getting to school high-class horses such as State Man and many others at Closutton.
“RACE was a great eye-opener, the first time living away from home. My riding came on massively at Willie’s. I got to school some lovely horses and learned loads.”
He briefly attended a journalism course afterward, but it lasted only a few months.
“I knew fairly quickly horses were the only thing for me,” he laughs.
A conditional licence is something he has considered, but only in the right circumstances.
“It’s definitely a thought, but I’d need the right opportunity in a good yard. For the moment I’m happy doing what I’m doing.”
Looking ahead to the rest of the season, Coffey outlined his goals.
“The goal now is stay in one piece try and ride another few point-to-point winners and if I could ride a track winner that would be unbelievable.”
Coffey is also keen to produce and sell the four-year-old Wings of Eagles gelding he and his family have at home.
“We sent away the naming form last week. He’s done everything right so far. He’ll be out late in the season.”
With seven point-to-point winners already on his record Coffey is quickly gaining momentum and is hoping that his upward trajectory continues for the rest of the season.
