Twenty top years in saddle
The world of horse racing is in Jamie Codd’s blood
JAMIE CODD from Mayglass is one of the finest amateur jockeys ever in Ireland, and he is showing few signs of slowing up after 20 years in the saddle.
Since his first winners in late 2001, his achievements have been remarkable, including ten winners at the Cheltenham Festival and nearly 1,300 in total between track and point-to-point.
He has been immersed in horses for as long as he can remember as his whole family has been involved with the Killinick Harriers and their famous track at Lingstown, from parents Billy and Mary Frances, on whose land the Lingstown course is situated; his late brother William who rode, trained and bred horses at the Churchlands, Mayglass stable; and sisters Lisa and Zoe who also take an active interest.
Jamie is now living in Monasterevin, Co. Kildare; married to Robyn (O’Sullivan), they have two young daughters.
His first point-to-point winner was Eyze for Mags Mullins at Bramblestown, on October 7, 2001, and this was followed less than three months later by his first track winner, Killultagh Thunder for Willie Mullins at the Leopardstown Festival on December 28.
It was Mullins who advised Jamie to remain in amateur ranks, and he has stuck with that.
He did not have his first Cheltenham winner until 2009, on Character Building for John Quinn in the Kim Muir Chase, but his current tally of ten would be the envy of most professionals.
He won the Kim Muir three more times (a record), on Junior (2011), The Package (2015), and Cause of Causes (2016).
He also rode Cause of Causes to win the National Hunt Chase (2015) and the Cross Country Chase (2017). He won the Cheltenham Festival Bumper on Fayonagh (which began its career with Richie Rath in Screen) in the same year.
He had another double in 2019, Le Breuil in the National Hunt Chase and Envoi Allen gave him a second victory over the professional riders in the Bumper.
This year he made double figures on the Gordon Elliott-trained Ravenhill, for a record third National Hunt Chase.
‘It feels like quite a long time since I had my first winner here in 2009, and since then I’ve just been very lucky.
‘I’ve been fortunate to get to ride some beautiful horses for some really great people,’ was his summation.
Gordon Elliott said: ‘Jamie has been part of my team since I started training and is one of my very best friends. He’s a different class that guy, even if you watch him riding with your heart in your mouth sometimes,’ he finished with a smile.
Another notable success was in the Crabbie´s Fox Hunters’ Chase at the Aintree Grand National meeting in 2016 which he won with the Enda Bolger-trained On The Fringe, replacing the suspended Nina Carberry.
In August of the same year he scored a major win on the flat in the Amateur Derby at Epsom on the John Quinn-trained Hubertas.
The 2016-’17 season was particularly successful for Jamie as not only did he ride those two Cheltenham winners, he finished second aboard Cause Of Causes in the Aintree Grand National, which he describes as the greatest thrill of his career (see Q&A on opposite page).
‘I loved that horse. He’s similar to myself, a bit of an underdog. He likes a challenge and he’s got big heart.’
He was also crowned champion amateur rider for the first time. He rode 41 track winners to pip Patrick Mullins by one in a thrilling climax to the title race at Punchestown, the only time Mullins failed to take to the title in 13 seasons. In 2003 he had finished second to Alan Crowe.
Undoubtedly his most emotional day in racing was his success in the Cheltenham bumper on Envoi Allen in 2019, his fourth win on the horse which had won his point-to-point for Colin Bowe and Barry O’Neill at Ballinaboola.
His mother and father were in the winners’ enclosure to welcome him back in. A tearful Jamie dedicated the win to his brother, William, who had died at only 43 years of age the previous year. They had always been very close, and William was his role model when he was growing up.
‘I know William is up there watching and I hope he very proud of me. This one’s for him,’ he said as he fought back the tears.
His point-to-point tally is now 953, second only to Derek O’Connor, and he would have had many more but for his loyalty to trainer Gordon Elliott, leaving many P2P meetings half way through to dash off to bumper races on the track.
He is the only modern day jockey to ride all six winners on one card, at Fairwood, Tinahely on October 9, 2011, emulating fellow Wexfordman, John Berry (Caim, 1988), and Brian McLernon (1959).
He had gone close a couple of times previously, including riding five at his beloved Lingstown.
There is no doubt more records will come the way of Jamie Codd, luck and injuries permitting. At 38, he has some time left yet and surely the 1,000 point-to-point winners must be a big target.
In addition to all the riding, he is working for Tattersalls Sales and it is pretty certain that, apart from his family, his life will revolve around horses for a long time yet.
‘Myself and dad have a couple of young horses that we’re hoping to sell as three-year-olds, and he keeps an eye on them.’
It’s in the blood!