Image © Healy Racing
Twenty-year-old Cork rider Luke Burke Ott took his first rides as a conditional jockey at Cork on Sunday, becoming the latest amateur to join the professional ranks this season.
Burke Ott had originally been declared to make his debut at Wexford on Thursday aboard the Michael Winters-trained Fenian Maxios, however the gelding was declared a non-runner, delaying his first rides as a professional until Cork.
There was no fairytale beginning, with Burke Ott partnering Inchidaly Rua into ninth in the opening four-year-old maiden hurdle before Dceilingcantholdus finished twelfth in the mares’ maiden hurdle later on the card, both trained by his father Alex Ott.
The Ballyhoulihan native explained that the decision to turn conditional had been building for some time.
“I suppose I wasn’t exactly flying as an amateur and my weight isn’t too bad, so I said I’d give it a go and see if it’s better for me,” he said.
“I kind of had it in the back of my head before Christmas and I kind of decided over the last couple of months.”
Burke Ott rides at a minimum weight of 9st 13lb and has appointed Garry Cribbin as his agent.
The Cork rider confirmed there will not be a major upheaval in his day-to-day routine despite the move into the professional ranks, with Burke Ott set to continue splitting his time between the family operation and riding out for Michael Winters.
“I’m with my father Alex every day and I also ride out for Michael Winters. They’re the only two places I am at the moment.”
“Michael has been a big supporter of mine.”
Burke Ott also revealed that his family have fully backed the decision to turn professional, while his elder brother and fellow amateur rider Andy Burke Ott will continue to ride between the flags.
“They’re all supporting me with it,” he said.
Coming from a strong equestrian background, Burke Ott was introduced to horses from an early age through his family’s involvement in the sport.
After hunting regularly with the Duhallow Foxhounds and competing in eventing, Burke Ott enjoyed considerable success in pony racing, riding 13 winners across three seasons before progressing into point-to-pointing and eventually onto the track.
The Cork rider also spent time in England as a teenager gaining further experience.
“I went to England for a couple of months when I was 16,” he explained.
“I rode out for Fergal O’Brien for about three and a half weeks and I rode out for Jonjo O’Neill for six weeks.”
Having made his racecourse debut in bumpers during the summer of 2022, Burke Ott partnered his first point-to-point winner aboard Inchidaly Copper at Dromahane in April 2024, with the son of Elusive Pimpernel going on to play a major role in his career.
Inchidaly Copper has since supplied Burke Ott with three of his six winners under Rules, including handicap hurdle and chase victories at Kilbeggan Racecourse and Tipperary Racecourse.
Burke Ott’s breakthrough success on the track came aboard the Michael Winters-trained Pana To Milan at Thurles Racecourse in February 2024, while further victories aboard Aleish Lass and River Vale strengthened his growing association with the Cork handler.
River Vale provided Burke Ott with his last track success as an amateur at Naas Racecourse in December, while his final ride between the flags came aboard But I Wont Do That at Dawstown earlier this month.
Burke Ott maintained a consistent presence between the flags, partnering four winners during the current campaign, while the 2024/25 season represented a personal-best tally after he rode five winners.
The Happy Huntsman provided him with his last point-to-point success at his local track, Dromahane, the same venue where he rode his first winner between the flags.
Although Burke Ott admitted stepping away from the amateur ranks was not an easy decision, he felt it was the right time to make the move.
“You would miss it now, but I said I’d better give something else a try and see how it goes.”
With six winners under Rules and 11 point-to-point victories already to his name, Burke Ott will hope his move into the professional ranks can provide the platform for the next stage of his career.
