Paddy Flood's Racing Roots: Three Jockeys On The Up Welcome to your taster of irishracing.com's new newsletter - Paddy Flood's racing roots. Each week, the Cheltenham winning jockey will round-up the best stories from the heart of the racing community on irishracing.com, adding his own expert take to each story. Click here to sign-up to receive Paddy Flood's Racing Roots each week in your email inbox for free. This week, we're focusing on jockeys with first wins for Shane Markey and Heather Heffernan. But first, Ronan Whelan has been reflecting on his career after winning the Futurity Trophy with Hawk Mountain. Ronan Whelan Now Ready To Step Up Whelan won two Group 1s with Ballydoyle This Season I feel like Ronan has been around for years and he’s been unlucky in some ways that Kevin Manning rode for long as he did for Jim Bolger because he was waiting in the wings to take over. Then he worked with Mick Halford before he stopped training at the end of last season, leaving Ronan in limbo. His work with Aidan O'Brien this season, topped off with the Futurity Trophy last weekend, is testament to the power of turning up and putting yourself out there. He's an exceptional talent who has gone under the radar. Fortunately for him, Ryan Moore's injury has given him an opportunity to step up for Aidan. Ronan is really respected within the sport but perhaps not well known outside of it. Hopefully he can kick on from here and become a household name in the future. Read how Ronan Whelan's career has been rebirthed with Ballydoyle Shane Markey's Long-awaited First Win Found A Diamond wins at Thurles on Thursday I’m over the moon for Shane to get off the mark! It’s taking a long time for him to get his head in front with Found A Diamond at Thurles his 94th ride under rules. However, he hasn’t let that affect his infectious personality or his love of horses that makes you want to help him in any way possible. That's why Ross O'Sullivan has done his very best for him. He’s a smashing young man and I hope he can now kick on in his career. He’s been a bit of a slow burner but sometimes in racing that’s no bad thing. Now, he'll be ready for anything that comes his way and will be grateful for any opportunity. Read the full story on Shane Markey's first win Family Affair for Heather Heffernan Heffernan's first winner trained by partner I’ve known Heather for quite a while now and to see her nearly speechless after riding her first winner on the track was a shock! She's never been a lady short of a conversation or a laugh and she was brilliant on Insouciant Dallier in Sligo. I’ve coached her in a few jumping lessons and she is probably the easiest person in the world to coach. She has an open mind, an appetite to learn and a willingness to try anything. She’s a credit to her family and hopefully she can go on to ride many more winners. Read the full Heather Heffernan Story Vincent Finegan's Weekend Tips irishracing.com editor and two-time winner of the Irish Field NAP table, Vincent Finegan, has two tips for Down Royal on Saturday. Kalypso'chance - Down Royal, 12.25 KALYPSO'CHANCE won his first two bumpers in good style around this time last year, but was ultimately very disappointing when stepped in grade at both the Cheltenham and Punchestown Festivals. He was sent off favourite for the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham, which indicates the level of confidence his stable had in his ability and it will be no surprise to see him get his career back on track with victory in this average looking maiden hurdle. Envoi Allen - Down Royal 2.40 ENVOI ALLEN is now entering the twilight of his illustrious career, but he cannot be discounted in a race he has already won twice. He has won first time out in six of his seven previous seasons and has an enviable record at Down Royal where his only defeat in six previous appearances at the track was a neck defeat at the hands of Gerri Colombe in this race in 2023. VivatBet Betting Offer
