Liam McKenna bidding for more big race glory

Jockey Liam McKenna returned from serious injury to win the Galway Hurdle on Tony Martin's Tudor City last summer on his very first ride back after picked up a nasty injury in last year's Irish Grand National.

He had a further injury but came back earlier this year and recorded his first Cheltenham winner on Martin's Good Time Jonny last month and goes in search of further success in today’s BoyleSports Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse where he rides recent Leopardstown winner Lieutenant Command for Noel Meade.

Liam is a cousin of Tyrone All-Ireland medal winner, Conor McKenna, who himself used to ride out. Conor is now based in Australia playing Aussie Rules and is Liam’s number one fan and will be watching the race in Australia.

In conversation with Dave Keena, McKenna reflected on his season to date: "I had a bit of hard luck in the Irish National last year. I broke my collarbone and was out for three months. I came back and won the Galway Hurdle and I was kind if getting going, rode a winner, and then got broke up again. I fractured my cheekbone and eye socket. Then I came back again and had another winner and a Cheltenham festival winner, so I suppose if the Irish National was to add to that it would be more than a great season.

"I was actually very lucky with the collarbone injury. They didn't know if they could fix it or not, there were nine fractures across it so it was all in little pieces but the surgeon Mr O'Rourke did a great job to put it back together so hopefully that bit of bad luck is behind me and I can keep moving forward.

"The Galway Hurdle was my first ride after I came back from the collarbone injury. I knew there was something because the week before Tony (Martin) said that he wanted me to have a ride before Galway. I said 'jeez, he must have something lined up'. I was supposed to ride one at Cork but he ended up not running, so yeah, it was my first ride back.

"The Cheltenham winner was great. I was back about four months and actually had quite a consistent run of things, each month I was riding at least one winner which hadn't really been happening the previous season when things were a lot tougher. So the ball's just been starting to roll for me since this time last year. Keeping it rolling is probably the biggest job and hopefully I can."

McKenna was successful on his first ride for Lieutenant Command's trainer Noel Meade when partnering Nucky Johnson to win at Naas last month.

"When you ride a winner at Cheltenham, no matter what race it is, everybody sees it and obviously for my agent Garry Cribbin to sell me becomes a lot easier. When he sold me to Noel and the horse won it was a masive relief and helps to keep the ball rolling.

"I'm very close to my cousin Conor and for him to say at Galway last year that it was the best sporting day he'd ever had, given the amount of things that he's achieved, is mind-blowing. He's won All-Irelands, he's been at the very top level in Aussie Rules which he's gone back over to play. He's been there in front of 80,00 fans and it being between his team and another team, whereas I'm competing against many others. So for him to say that, it must have been great.

"Conor actually rode in pony racing, we rode ponies together growing up and his dad Paddy always had horses. We were close growing up and did a lot of things together. I suppose with him being so tall and big, he had to pick something else, he had to go a separate way from being a jockey which is what he wanted to be.

"I'm trying to get into the Aussie Rules, watching it to follow his career, and I'm getting the hang of it now.

"Whatever time it is in Australia, Conor will be watching the Irish National. When I won on Nucky Johnson he texted me five minutes after the race, he gets up to watch them, so he'll be tuned in all right.

"Noel's horse has a nice weight (10st 2lb). The weight is probably a big thing and the past two winners of the race have had light enough weights and, coming out of Noel's, he's going to be the best he is on the day. We need a lot of luck, I've got a lot of luck this season and I hope I can keep getting more luck. If we do get it, the ground drying out will suit him and the trip should suit, everything seems to be going our way.

On future aspirations, McKenna added: "I was always one to have targets but always disappointed not to get them, so I just take each day as it comes. Now that I'm a bit busier and getting rides in big handicaps, I suppose it's trying to win as many of them as I can. I've already won two this season and was unlucky in one, so if I can pick up another one it would be great. And I suppose next season it's about trying to win some of those races again."