Image © Healy Racing
Name: Eoin Cloke
Age: 20
From: Davidstown, Co Wexford
How did you first get involved with horses? Is there a racing background in your family?
My father Larry and his two brothers, Tom and Pat, were jockeys, and my mam Fiona is a riding instructor. I was riding ponies from a young age and did plenty of eventing and hunter trials. It all started from there.
Were you involved with Pony Club?
I was in the Island Hunt Pony Club and did one-day events and the Minimus. I didn’t hunt or do any pony racing; it was mainly the Pony Club and eventing.
Do you remember the first racehorse you sat on?
He was called Flynsini. He was an old gent of ours.
Where are you working at the moment?
I ride out five mornings a week for Brian Lawless and one day a week for Sonny Carey. In the afternoons, I’m with Alan Doyle for five days and Rob James for one.
I started going to Brian’s nearly a year ago. I was riding out there in the afternoons when I was with Paul Nolan in the mornings, and I’ve stayed on since.
Where did you gain experience before that?
I started with Paul Nolan when I was about 13 or 14 and was there for two or three years. I left then and went to Denis Murphy’s to learn how to school. I learned an awful lot from the lads who were there, and I had my first ride in a bumper for Denis.
I went back to Paul’s last year and he was very good to me, giving me rides in point-to-points and a few on the track.
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How did the ride on Conflict Lady at Knockmullen House come about?
I rode her at Tattersalls last year and she finished sixth. John Paul Brennan rang me on Saturday morning to ask me to ride her.
I was actually supposed to be playing a hurling match on Sunday, but I said I’d ride her instead. It worked out better than playing hurling because she gave me my first winner!
Did your team win the match?
No, they were beaten well!
Were connections expecting Conflict Lady to run well?
They were fairly confident. I hadn’t gone in to school her or anything; I’d just ridden her that once before at Tattersalls.
How did the race unfold, and when did you feel you had it won?
I was told to sit third or fourth and follow away, and then join the front runners coming onto the final circuit. I did that, and coming to the second-last I couldn’t believe how well I was going. Once she jumped it, I knew I had it. She won very easily, thank God.
What did it mean to ride your first point-to-point winner?
It was a great buzz. It had been coming a while, so I’m very grateful to have got it.
Were your family there to see it?
My father was the only one there. My mother and brother went to the hurling match instead!
Do you know what the plan is for Conflict Lady now?
I think she’ll probably go for a winners’ race in two or three weeks, but that will be up to John Paul Brennan.
You’d gone close several times on Coppola. Did those near misses make it even sweeter to get your first winner?
They did. After finishing second a few times, it was fairly sweet to finally get the first winner.
You’ve had a few spins on the track in bumpers and hurdles. What have you learned from those experiences?
The lads have been very good to give me the opportunities and you work hard for them. It’s a different feeling riding on the track, but it’s enjoyable too.
Everything happens quicker and it’s tighter, so it sharpens you up for any point-to-point ride you have afterwards. I haven’t ridden a track winner yet, but hopefully I’ll get one soon.
Was it always an ambition to take out your licence and ride in races?
It was something I wanted to do from riding ponies when I was younger. I went away from it for a while when I was involved with the county hurling and football teams, but in third or fourth year I decided to get going with it because I was already riding out. I haven’t looked back since.
Who has been the biggest influence on your racing career so far?
Probably Brian Lawless, along with lads like Sean Flanagan, Sean O’Keeffe and Eoin Staples. The lads who were in Paul Nolan’s were always good to give you advice. When you’re around good people, they’ll try their best to help you.
Brian is very good to me day to day as well.
Is there anyone you turn to for advice after a race?
Sonny Carey is very good at watching a race back with you. He’ll point out what you could have done better, but he’ll tell you what you did well too.
Tell us about your hurling and football.
I was involved with the Wexford county teams when I was younger. Now I play hurling and football with my local club in Davidstown.
We got to two county finals this year but lost both. Matthew Flynn O’Connor is actually our manager. The match I missed on Sunday was an under-21 hurling quarter-final.
What are your ambitions for the rest of the season?
I’d like to get my name out there more, hopefully pick up some outside rides and ride a few winners. I’d like to get a few more rides on the track too—and stay in one piece!
Is there anyone you’d like to thank?
I’d like to thank Peadar Carter, the owner, Pat Murray and John Paul Brennan for giving me the opportunity to ride Conflict Lady. Thanks as well to everyone who has helped me along the way.
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.
