Orla Tynan: 'The lads in Andy’s are a great help, giving me advice and helping me to get stronger and improve every day' From Moyglass in County Tipperary apprentice rider Orla Tynan is making steady progress in her career and earlier this month brought her career tally to 13 aboard Irish Rumour at Navan. It wasn’t her first time to steer Irish Rumour to victory over five furlongs. Just seven weeks earlier she also went to Navan for just one ride on the day and partnered the Jenny Lynch-trained mare to win on turf over the minimum trip. All three wins from Irish Rumour have come at Navan with Dylan Browne McMonagle having teamed up for the initial success over two years ago but the focus now for Tynan centres around Dundalk over the winter months. If she is not riding at the county Louth venue, she could be leading one up around the parade ring there for her boss Andy Slattery but the 19-year-old has her sights on getting more opportunities in the saddle on the Polytrack. 'Hopefully for the winter there’ll be a good few chances' With several winner-capped restricted races down for decision at the start of 2027, the teenager who rode her first winner in May 2025 at Fairyhouse aboard Solomon Coop for her grandfather Matty Tynan said: “Hopefully for the winter there’ll be a good few chances because in January there’s those races for riders who have ridden less winners so hopefully, I might get on a few.” Bella and Joey played their part It all started for the Tipperary rider as a nine-year-old when a pony named Bella came along and since then ‘always wanted to be a jockey’. “Two months before I turned ten, I got my first pony and that’s where it all began for me. “We have a farm across the road from the stables and a lad was renting it out and had a pony there and I asked could I ride it out and he said go ahead and ride her out and work away no problem.” Tynan had expected the pony to depart and move to another stable several months later but what happened then was the turning point as she explains: “I was riding her out for about three months and then at the dinner table at Christmas he told me, when I thought she was going home in January, that she was not going anywhere and that she was mine now. We weren’t looking for a pony but it kind of just happened from that.” After Bella another pony arrived called Joey and this was the springboard to compete in pony racing. “I had Joey for about two years and then I started riding out in Andy’s [Slattery] place which is about ten minutes away from my home and I did pony racing for just one season.” It wasn’t all plain sailing and a mishap brought things to a standstill for a short period. “I wasn’t riding for a while when I broke my collarbone but riding in Andys got me going with the racehorses and taught me a lot.” Tynan now works full time for the Slattery team who are enjoying their best season under both codes. She also spent some time riding out with Evanna McCutcheon. “I rode out at Evanna’s yard before I went to the Slattery’s usually on Saturdays at the end of the week after school.” A double last January at Dundalk was a memorable night according to Tynan who recalled the notable milestone just weeks before she turned 19 “I had ridden Kitty Bear for Andy [Slattery] to finish fourth at Dundalk a few weeks earlier and she was the first winner that night. She’s been a great little filly for me and then I rode the winner (Soldier’s Tree) for my grandad Matty two races later. It was great because I was riding him out every day and then to have the win on him for my grandad who had bred him too made it even better.” Soldier’s Tree subsequently moved to Britain to join James Owen and continued to improve, getting placed in a Listed contest on his first start for his new trainer before another third-place finish in the Wokingham. While he disappointed somewhat on his last start in the Stewards Cup at Goodwood last August, he had been placed third again in a Group 3 at Newbury on his penultimate start. The teenager went on to win another couple aboard the progressive Kitty Bear at Gowran last April and Roscommon the following month and last week registered her 11th success of 2026 when she teamed up with Irish Rumour in the 0-80 five-furlong handicap. Understandably, she singles out her grandfather Matty as the man who has played a pivotal role in her career so far. Not only did he train her first winner in the saddle, Solomon Coop in May last year, he then played his part in her first double courtesy of Soldier’s Tree after which he said the moment ‘was like a dream really, you couldn’t write it’. “Yeah, he used to come out with me on the ponies every day and bring me up to the gallop on the pony and has been a huge help to me over the years.” Reflecting on the season, Orla Tynan adds: When I started off I was only hoping I’d get a few rides but everyone has been great giving me chances. The lads in Andy’s are a great help, giving me advice and helping me to get stronger and improve every day.” Andy Slattery has provided his apprentice with seven of her 13 career winners so far, the success of Bin Majestic Roi in a one-mile handicap at Dundalk last December getting the ball rolling. Looking ahead the message is clear from the 19-year-old seeking more opportunities. “To keep getting more rides, get stronger and improve is what I’m aiming for over the next few months.” Expect to see her regularly at Dundalk over the winter months.
