Image © Healy Racing
Bertie Finn has wasted little time getting among the winners this season, with a treble at Umma House on Sunday bringing his tally to five from just 13 rides.
All three winners were trained by Colin Bowe, who also supplied the Oulart rider with his first treble at Ballindenisk in May 2023.
“We thought we had three nice chances. Definitely with the four-year-old and five-year-old,” Finn said.
First up was Sunset Carousel, who opened his account at the third attempt in the four-year-old geldings’ maiden.
The €30,000 son of Kew Gardens travelled strongly throughout and quickened clear approaching the second-last, eventually coming home six lengths ahead of Ocean Ranger.
“He travelled strong, jumped really well, jumped pretty slick and quickened up nicely.”
Owned by Milestone Bloodstock, he is now set to head to the sales.
Captain’s Song made it a double in the five-year-old geldings’ maiden, although the son of Ocovango had to battle considerably harder to get his head in front.
Governor Max appeared to have his measure approaching the home straight, but Finn kept his mount going to collar the newcomer close home by a neck.
“Jumping the third-last, I was kind of pushing him along. When I got stuck into him after the second-last, he really picked up and put his head down. He was good, he was tough, very tough.”
The three-timer was completed by Supreme Walk in the concluding six-year-old and upwards geldings’ maiden.
Making his first appearance in 525 days, Tomas Frisby’s son of Walk In The Park joined the leader three out before going clear to beat Derby Rock by five lengths.
“We knew he had a chance. He switched off, jumped super and picked up.”
With Barry O’Neill also winning on Talladega and Dark Til Daylight at Tinahely, it rounded off a five-winner afternoon for Bowe.
Finn has already bettered his tally of three winners from last season.
“It was just a slow year. There was no real excuse for it.”
This autumn has been a different story. He won on the Pat Ward-trained Western Wishes at Toomebridge before sharing the spoils on Silverado Blue for Bowe at Castletown-Geoghegan, giving him winners on each of the opening three weekends.
“It gets your name out there and people seeing it. It definitely is a big thing to get some early winners.”
Based full-time with Bowe for the past five or six years, Finn also rides out for Eamonn Doyle one morning and three afternoons a week, along with two afternoons at Rob James’s.
He credits Bowe with helping him improve throughout his time in the yard.
“I couldn’t ask for any more since I went up there, to be honest. Colin’s always trying to help you and improve you.
“If something goes wrong, it’s done, it’s finished. He’s a very easy man to ride for. He never complicates it.”
There is hurling to fit into the week too, with Finn still playing at senior level for Oulart.
“It’s tough to juggle the two and sometimes they kind of run into each other a bit, but we try our best.”
Runner-up in the under-21 riders’ standings in both 2023 and 2025, Finn is now just six winners away from his half-century between the flags, while a first winner on the track is another ambition.
“I probably haven’t got as many track rides as I’d like. It would be nice to get a track winner.”
With a lovely bunch of young horses coming through at both Bowe’s and Doyle’s, Finn is reluctant to single out one in particular. His aim for the season is to keep the momentum going and stay sound.
