UNDER THE SPOTLIGHT: QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS WITH SEAN FLANAGAN

WHAT WAS your childhood ambition?

From day one, I always wanted to be a jockey – I always had a dream to ride in the English Grand National.

Growing up, who was your sporting hero? Martin Storey for hurling and Conor O’Dwyer for racing.

Do you have a mentor?

Jimmy Kelly, he trains in Fethard in Tipperary – he is always good to go to for advice.

What or where is your happy place?

I love going fishing, hunting, and flying airplanes. What sparked your love of racing?

I have always loved horses so the best way to get close to them was to become a jockey.

What horse put you on the map?

Merry Cowboy, trained by Eamonn ‘Dusty’ Sheehy, gave me a winner as an amateur jockey, a conditional jockey and my first graded race.

Who is your favourite horse?

My favourite horse ability wise would have to be Road to Respect. My favourite horse with a big character is Rashaan.

My all-time favourite horse is Paddy the Patch – a black and white cob I bought to hunt with the Wexfords. We hunted together for three or four years. What was it like to ride in your first race?

It was a great buzz! It was on a horse called ‘On Your Way’ for Liz Doyle at the Listowel Festival. You work so hard to get to that point and when you eventually get there, it is brilliant.

It was a massive deal to ride at such a big festival like Listowel. Because it was my first ride, I had all my gear in tip-top shape, and I was wearing gloves. The horse ran clean away with me and we finished fifth. I haven’t worn a pair of gloves since!

How long does it take to learn race-riding tactics?

Tactics are something that can be improved on throughout your career but not really learned.

I don’t think you could sit down and teach someone race riding tactics – you either have it or you don’t.

Describe the feeling of riding your first winner? My first winner on the track was Keevas Boy at Down Royal on November 4, 2006, for Eamonn ‘Dusty’ Sheehy and it was an unbelievable feeling. I beat Conor O’Dwyer on a red-hot favourite – so it was great to beat one of my racing heroes.

What is your most memorable racing moment? Winning the 2018 Ryanair Stayers’ Hurdle in Aintree on Identity Thief for Henry De Bromhead. It was my first winner in England and my first Grade 1 winner in England too.

It was the race before the Aintree Grand National, so it was a massive day. The owners and trainer put a lot of trust in me, so it was great to pay them back. What is your favourite racecourse in Ireland? Leopardstown is a phenomenal track. However, ‘courses for horses’ is very true and I’ve a soft spot for Tramore and Downpatrick too because I’ve had a lot of luck at those tracks.

If you weren’t a jockey what would you be?

A pilot.

If you could ride one horse, what would it be? I would love to ride Hurricane Fly. What a little beast!

How do you cope with pressure?

I don’t really do pressure. If I was under pressure, I might go a bit quiet but, in my career, I have been up and down enough, so I just get on with it now.

What mental preparation do you do for the big days?

I go out of my way to blend it into a normal day. I always make sure I have my homework done for every race day and that always helps

How do you stay motivated?

I love racing, I love riding out and meeting different people, so it is easy to stay motivated.

Outside of racing, what is your favourite sporting moment?

Wexford winning the All-Ireland in 1996.

Can you give us a Netflix/film recommendation? I am addicted to Gold Rush on Discovery.

What is your guilty pleasure?

Home and Away – it is back to three days a week now and I am struggling with that!

Desert island discs – name your favourite three songs?

My taste in music is quite mellow but I am a big Garth Brooks fan – so any three of his songs will do just fine.

What person do you admire the most and why? When John Cullen was riding, I really admired him because he struggled so much with his weight and he was so tough and competitive.

Favourite dinner?

I love shepherd’s pie.

Where is your favourite place to go on holidays? In Ireland it is Kinsale and overseas it is Thailand. What ambitions do you still have?

To ride as many big winners as possible and get associated with as many flagship horses that can take me to the big races and festivals

What is the hidden gem of Wexford?

Down around Hook Head and all our lovely beaches.

When you think of your home what immediately springs to mind?

My mother’s cooking.

How are you occupying your time during the Covid-19 restrictions?

I am riding out in Noel Meade’s every morning, renovating our kitchen at home, and minding my two kids – so not much time left after that!

If you had one piece of advice for everyone during these worrying times of Covid-19, what would it be?

Stay positive and keep your head above water – don’t let it get to you mentally or physically.

What advice would you give to your 20-yearold self?

Don’t be afraid to travel.

Favourite saying/quote?

Drive on, it will be grand.

Our thanks to Barbara White, PR and Marketing Manager, Horse Racing Ireland, for her help with this feature.