Image © Healy Racing
Name: Lelia Byrne
Age: 26
From: Ratoath, Co Meath
How did you first get involved with horses? Was there a racing background in your family?
Nobody in my immediate family rode racehorses, but my mum and dad, Lelia and James, both rode and Dad did plenty of hunting. We’ve been involved with the Ward Union Hunt and the Fingal Harriers, so we’re a horsey family.
I did everything in Pony Club, as well as eventing and hunting. My brother Daragh events full-time in Tipperary and has ridden at Badminton. I did pretty much everything you could do on half-breds before I got more involved with thoroughbreds.
How did you make the move into racing?
I started riding out for Claire O’Connell when I was about 16 or 17. I schooled the children’s ponies and then began riding the racehorses for her.
I started riding out for John McConnell while I was in college, around the time of Covid. We didn’t have to go into college as much, so I spent most of my mornings in the yard. A friend was riding out there and suggested I come along.
Do you remember the first racehorse you sat on?
I’m not completely sure, but I think it was one of Claire O’Connell’s.
You studied Equine Business at Maynooth. What made you choose that course?
I was always interested in horses and business, and Maynooth was close to home. I was doing a bit of eventing at the time and wanted to be able to get home to ride, so it suited me.
I got a 2:1 in my degree and worked in Horse Sport Ireland afterwards. I was still riding out, but I felt that while I was young, I wanted to spend a bit more time working with horses.
You’ve competed in eventing to three-star level. Do you still compete?
I do. I didn’t do as much this year because I had young horses, but I’m hoping to do a bit more next year. My family breed a few horses, so there’s always something coming along to keep me busy.
What does a typical working day look like for you now?
I start at the Harveys’ at six o’clock and ride three lots there. Then I go into John’s for eight and could ride another five to seven lots before working in the office in the afternoon.
I usually work through lunch so I can get my own horses done afterwards. Dad is a big help at home if I’m not around. The days are busy, especially in winter, but I enjoy it.
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How did you start riding out for the Harveys?
I’ve been going out with Ben for six years, so that’s how the connection with the Harvey family came about. Ben has been a big help to me and gives me plenty of advice.
Was it always an ambition to take out your licence and ride in races?
No, not at all. Growing up, eventing was always my thing. I’ve always been competitive and played every sport I could in school, but I hadn’t planned on riding in races.
Once I started riding out, I was watching everyone else and thought, “Why can’t I do that?” So I took out my licence. I started off for the craic, but once you get a taste of it, you get a bit hungrier and want to ride more.
How did you come to own Matter Of Opinion?
When I got my licence, we thought I might as well get a horse to start me off. There were two we liked in a Tattersalls online sale, but the first one went for more than we wanted to pay, so Matter Of Opinion was our second choice.
I was happy enough to get him. We ran him a few weeks later and he finished third in a bumper at Kilbeggan on my first ride. He was my first ride over hurdles too.
You’ve ridden him on the track and between the flags. What made you decide to go point-to-pointing with him?
He’s a good jumper, so we decided to keep him over hurdles for the summer and, if he didn’t win, aim him at a six-year-old and upwards maiden point. Thankfully, the plan worked!
The pair of you finished third on your point-to-point debuts at Damma House before winning at Quakerstown a week later. Were you confident going into the second race?
He’d had his wind looked at and a little break after his last race on the track at Down Royal, so we thought he might need the run at Damma House. He hadn’t jumped a fence on grass for a while either, and we thought he might have a look around, but he jumped brilliantly. He probably just took a bit of a blow.
He came out of that race really well, so we felt that if he went to Quakerstown, he should be the one to beat.
How did the race unfold for you?
I was going to ride him quietly because he’s not the quickest. I gave him a little squeeze and he picked up more than I wanted him to, because I thought I was going to get there too soon!
He jumped the third-last very well and I ended up nearly in front. Once we jumped the second-last, I went on, and he picked up for me. He jumped the last brilliantly and hit the line running.
What did it mean to ride your first point-to-point winner on a horse you own and know so well?
I was delighted. I’ve had him for two years and he hadn’t won, although he’d hit the crossbar a few times. He owed me nothing anyway because he’d already done his job in getting me started.
We always felt he probably had more ability than his results showed, so there was a bit of relief as well. He’s a very special horse to me.
Were your family there to see it?
Dad was there. Mum was on holidays, but they’d all been there the week before at Damma House.
How did Matter Of Opinion come out of the race, and what’s the plan for him now?
He came out of it well. I rode him on Monday morning and he was fresh—he gave me a little spin around the field!
We’ll look for a winners-of-one race for him. I would have gone again this weekend, but I have a Leinster football final with my club, so I’d better play that first.
Your first winner on the track came aboard Is She Real at Bellewstown in 2025. What do you remember about that day?
It was a great day. She was an easy winner, so she made it straightforward for me. Bellewstown is local enough to me and there was a good crowd there, including plenty of people I knew. That made it brilliant.
You also rode Campbell Black to win at Thurles earlier this year. How special was your first winner over hurdles?
That was brilliant too. Ben led me up, and I had my parents and my brother there. I sat last the whole way and Campbell Black absolutely flew home.
You’ve now ridden winners in a bumper, over hurdles and between the flags. Is there a different feeling to riding a point-to-point winner?
I suppose it depends on the crowd and who’s there. I enjoyed Quakerstown, especially because I own the horse myself. It was great to tick the three boxes—a bumper, a hurdle race and a point-to-point.
Point-to-pointing is a bit more relaxed, but it’s great to ride a winner anywhere.
Who has been the biggest influence on your racing career so far?
Probably Ben Harvey. He’ll kill me for saying this, but he described himself as Mr Miyagi and said he was training me!
He’s a big help and will tell me if I’ve done something wrong or if I should have done something differently. I’m probably my own biggest critic, but plenty of people have helped me along the way and you have to be willing to take advice.
Have you any interests or hobbies outside of racing?
Football and horses, mainly. I have a Leinster Junior final with Ratoath against St Vincent’s from Dublin. It’s the first time our ladies’ team has reached a Leinster Club Championship final, so that’s exciting.
What are your ambitions for the rest of the season?
I’d love to ride a couple more winners, get a few outside rides and maybe ride in some ladies’ races. We’ll see what comes of it.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank?
I’d like to mention Ben and Willie Harvey for all their help. I’d also love to give a special mention to Robyn McCluskey. I’ve known Robyn through eventing for years and she’s one of my best friends.
She’s very sharp and knows what she’s talking about. I’d send her races and ask who I should ring about a ride. She absolutely loves point-to-pointing, so I knew she’d love hearing that I’d ridden a winner!
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.
