Jockey Eile to air on TG4 this Sunday The reality TV series Jockey Eile which had it's finale in a race staged at Naas last November is to start on TG4 this Sunday October 7th. The series will begin at 8.15 this Sunday and will consist of six 40 minute shows hosted by Sean Ban Breathnach and Joe Connolly. The programme follows 20 aspiring jockeys on their journey from an initial selection day at Fairyhouse to the racecourse. Davy Russell and Kevin Manning were involved in the training process and the riders were put through their paces by trainer Tucker Geraghty 'at boot camp' aided by Susanne Macken. The weakest riders were eliminated in each of the first two weeks before being placed with trainers for the next three weeks. Conor O'Dwyer, James Nash, Tony Martin and Gordon Elliott were the handlers that took in the participants. After three weeks in the stable the 15 remaining contestants undertook the QR test at RACE / Turf Club and from that 15, those that got got their QR licence competed in the final race run at Naas on November 12th. “The series has drama, tears, laughs and loads of exciting footage. And a few nice twists at the end,” , says series producer Pierce Boyce. “I am a big racing fan myself and this series was just great to work on. Myself, Sean Bán and Joe had a great time touring the ocuntry and hanging out in all the yards and up the gallops. The racing fraternity were so good to us – the jockeys, the Turf Club, HRI, R.A.C.E, the Trainers, Naas Racecourse, Peter Roe at Fairyhouse (who must have been sick of the sight of us by the end of it), Paul Carberry who kitted out all our guys with his own raceware clothing and Horseware Ireland who kitted out all our horses at Tuckers. It was a real privilege to be involved with everyone of them, “ continues Pierce. “When myself and Sean Bán first discussed the idea and he was so enthusiastic I knew we had to make it. TG4 came on board pretty quickly to fund it, and so the journey began. However, after the first few days I think Sean Bán was having massive doubts about the whole thing so myself and Joe Connolly had to get on his case to calm him down. And it all worked out great in the end with a very exciting climax at Naas. "But it would have been nothing without the participants who were just brilliant. Each one of them brought some different dynamic to the group and I jhope this comes through in the series. We had a few mishaps along the way but it all worked out great and I think the result might surprise a few people. It did me!” , adds Pierce. “And to cap it all, Sean Bán convinced me to get involved in a syndicate during filming so now I have a bit of a leg in what is turning out to be quite a promising horse called Tasitiocht with Willie Mullins. I’m delighted but my wife is not so happy……..”
