Dylan Robinson After a frustrating summer with injury it’s great to be back amongst the winners and I have my boss, Henry De Bromhead, to thank for that. I’m based with Henry full time now and he has shown plenty of faith in me to put me back up on some good horses and it’s thanks to him that I’ve been able to get five winners since I got back. In June I fractured and dislocated my wrist in a fall at Tipperary and that ruled me out for five months. Initially I wasn't expecting to be out for that long but it just took a while to come right and it needed a lot of physio work and a lot of patience to get it right again and get the strength back into it. That was a tough time. The racing was hard to watch when you are edging to get back. I was sitting at home watching other conditionals riding winners for Henry on horses that I probably could have been riding and you just want to get back out there and get on those horses. It was just unfortunate but it could have been worse. It’s just good to be back now. Nobody in my family had any interest in racing and I was much more into playing football at school but one day we went on our school tour to the Stonehaven Equestrian Centre and from that day I’ve always had a passion for racing and after my Junior Cert I went to RACE and thankfully haven’t looked back since. I always thought there was more of a thrill jumping so a National Hunt jockey was always my preferred option but I was too light to go down that road after RACE and I went to Jim Bolger’s to do my apprenticeship and enjoyed a few winners for Jim. Once I rode my first winner I was hooked. It was an experience to work in Jim Bolger’s. It was tough but you learn a lot up there and it all stands to you. Just to have three years working for Jim Bolger on your CV will stand to you, he’s unbelievable really. I’ve had one winner for Jim since I left working for him and I still ride a bit on the flat when I can on horses with heavyweights whenever the opportunities come about. Working in Henry’s is a bit more laid back but we’ve a lot of nice horses there and it’s an exciting time of year. It makes my job a bit easier when you are getting back on horses such as Henry has given me and when you are riding winners for owners like Gigginstown other trainers seem to take a bit more notice. Since I came back from injury it has been mainly Henry that I’ve ridden for but I just want to keep my head down and take the chances when they come and ride as many winners as I can. Christmas is a great opportunity and it opens a lot more doors with three meetings on Tuesday and double meetings for the rest of the week. I had five winners during the week last year and if I can match that again I’d be very happy. I don’t know where I’ll be yet, I’ll let my agent, Ciaran O’Toole, and Henry sort that out but I’ll be happy to go wherever they decide. I can easily claim off bottom weight so that sometimes opens up some opportunities in the big handicaps and at least it means I can have a nice Christmas dinner too!
