Two up-and-coming apprentice jockeys to follow

Anybody that has been around racing more than a season or two will know that if you latch on to a talented apprentice while they have their 7lb claim you can often find yourself being one step ahead of the old enemy – the bookies! writes Paul Alster.

Once upon a time, modern greats such as Frankie Dettori, Ryan Moore, William Buick and Oisin Murphy were just starting out on the long journey to stardom, and like all other apprentices were initially allotted a 7lb allowance for any rides – the 7lb weight reduction long being calculated as making up for their lack of race riding experience. Racing fans adept at spotting a budding star jockey in the making home in on young apprentices that stand out from the crowd; those whose raw talent and natural horsemanship clearly compensate for their initial lack of professional race riding experience.

That 7lb allowance – which gradually reduces to 5lb then 3lb as the apprentice rides more winners – is a huge benefit in handicap races where every ounce can make a significant difference. If the young apprentice clearly has the natural riding ability allied to tactical nous, (or simply is capable of understanding and rider accurately to the trainer’s instructions), then a serious advantage can be gleaned for the horses they ride at this stage of their career.

Two such examples of up-and-coming young apprentices have caught my eye in recent weeks. Both are based in Ireland, and both have shown me enough in their limited number of rides to suggest they could go all the way to the professional ranks and offer a significant advantage to punters supporting them along the way on that roller coaster journey.

Patrick McGettigan had his first rides as an apprentice last season, partnering his first winner for Jonny Murtagh in an apprentice race at the Curragh last August, but his star has risen quickly in recent weeks as his obvious talent has shone through. The 17-year-old has now ridden sixteen winners, his latest coming at the prestigious Galway Festival last week when he partnered the relatively unconsidered 22/1 shot Step In The Sand to victory in a 1m6f handicap for trainer Colm Murphy. He had won twice before on the same mare.

Speaking after the win, Murphy told the Racing Post: “She was on the inside and it was looking a little bit tricky at one point but Paddy [McGettigan] was very cool on her and he was good value for his seven. He is going places, that young man.”

Even taking into account his very early days when winners were harder to come by, if you had a £1 on every one of young McGettigan’s rides to date you would be showing a profit of over £97. That tells you all you need to know. Here is a young jockey who is definitely going places.

The other rising young Irish star whose journey I suggest should be worth following is Conor Cusack. In his first season with an apprentice licence, Cusack is far less experienced than McGettigan, but to my eyes – I was a professional race reader for a number of years back in the day – this young lad has the makings of being a proper jockey once he has honed his skills.

It was less than a month ago that 17-year-old Cusack partnered his very first winner on only his seventh ride. That came in the shape of the Henry de Bromhead-trained Stepdance in a 1m3f apprentice handicap at Limerick. Cusack had been on holiday with friends in Spain when he heard the ride was available, so hurriedly left the sun, sand and sangria and jetted back to Ireland to ride the 9/4 favourite to a half-length success, keeping his mount going in good style when challenged inside the final 100 yards.

At the time of writing Cusack has ridden three winners from just fifteen rides, and while he is far from the finished article, the Waterford-based apprentice has shown enough tactical awareness and latent race riding ability to suggest he could really pay to follow in the coming year. His latest win came at Leopardstown on July 24 on 12/1 shot Curious Bride, for Eamon O’Connell.

Both Patrick McGettigan and Conor Cusack have a lot to prove and will need their share of luck along the way, but I believe these two young Irish apprentices have got what it takes and should certainly be followed for as long as their respective 7lb claim remains.

Paul Alster has broadcast and reported on the British racing industry for four decades as a commentator, journalist, presenter, betting correspondent, SP Returner, tipster and form analyst, among other things.