Ray Barron It was an unbelievable thrill to ride my first ever winner at the Punchestown Festival, and to do it over the banks for Enda Bolger, who has been so good to me, and in the colours of JP McManus is something that will always stay with me. It was something else to do it over the banks. Blue Templar was brilliant. He jumped from bank to bank, bank to hedge and made ground everywhere. I got a lovely run around the inside and was able to cut all the bends. It was a great day for me. Blue Templar is a seasoned campaigner around here. He doesn’t put his best in until he gets a bank. Youcannotbeserious was the favourite and in Derek O’Connor, had the best man you could want on board. He’s a gorgeous horse but your first time around the banks at Punchestown takes a bit of getting used to and I wouldn’t be surprised if he’ll be winning plenty of these for Enda and Mr McManus in the years to come. Blue Templar has been doing it around here a long while and getting close, so you’d be delighted for him to get his head in front. I rode him point-to-points a couple of years ago but as soon as he gets to a bank, he’s something else. Everybody in racing knows the JP McManus colours and being from Limerick, we grew up watching them a little bit more than most. So to ride my first winner for him just added to a really special day, definitely my best in racing. I go into Enda’s there days a week. He’s very good to me. He gave me two point-to-point winners at the start of the year. It’s a great place to work and he’s a great tutor. I go into Michael Hourigan’s on a Tuesday and Pat Doyle’s on a Thursday and then on a Saturday, I’m everywhere and anywhere. I’m kept busy anyway. I do most of my riding in point-to-points where I’ve ridden 22 winners so far but I ride a good few bumpers for the likes of Charles Byrnes, who has been very good to me. I have ridden 11 winners on the track and Blue Templar brought me to five for the season, which is my best return. The other four were for Charles. My uncles Jimmy and Tony, God rest his soul, always had racehorses. Tony used to train a few point-to-pointers and have a few for the track. Jimmy and my mother used to always have hunters. Growing up, my father was playing polocrosse and looked after me very well around there. So from a very young age I was with horses but I didn’t get into racing until I started working for Enda, which is mighty. I’m 27 now so I’ll keep at this for a good while yet. I love it and when you have days like Tuesday, you couldn’t beat it. I also had the opportunity to represent Ireland in the Gentlemen’s League last year, a series for amateur jockeys from Ireland, Great Britain and France. I have a BA degree in legal studies and economics and when I’m finished with this I might hopefully look at that. I have a couple of store horses as well so I’ll keep myself busy and have plenty to do. You’re always learning and as I said, we always had horses so I love being around them. And that’s why Tuesday was so special. And sure with a bit of luck, there might be another few days like that. But for now, I am thankful to everyone that has helped me along from my family and the trainers that have given me a chance. And especially to Enda, who has taught me so much, and JP for letting me sit on his horse. And most of all Blue Templar, who skipped around the track and gave me a day I will never forget.
