The pain of missing out on Cheltenham is worse than the injury
MY riding instructions this week are straightforward: mind the dog and the chickens. That’s the directive from my father, Liam, when he heads over to Cheltenham and leaves me to look after things at home in Glengoura.
There’s never a good time to get injured in this game, but there’s no worse time than Cheltenham, as it’s the pinnacle of our season.
It’s very hard to be out of the circle. Since I was 13 or 14, I’ve been over at Cheltenham every year and I’ve ridden at the last two Festivals.
A winner there puts you on the map; it can define a jockey’s season, or even a career. I’d love to be there throwing a dart at the board but when you’re injured, you’re out of the loop.
It’s a wrench to be sidelined but I’m not alone suffering the effects of a fall. Barry Geraghty is missing out on an awful lot of very good horses this week, and that’ll hurt more than the pain of his recent fall.
Barry’s absence has opened up opportunities for others and I’m delighted to see Mark Walsh coming in for some terrific rides.
Mark is one of the most respected riders in the weighroom and it’s hard to believe he hasn’t had a winner at the Festival. That could change this week as he’s unflappable and will seize his moment.
You have to treat Cheltenham as another day’s racing. If you let the occasion get to you, lose your focus, your decision-making can be impaired.
David Mullins, who will have a busy week too, is a cool customer and that will stand to him. I’ll also be rooting for Paul Townend, a very good friend of mine, who won’t let the occasion get to him.
You’ve got some lads like Roger Loughran who won’t have as many rides, but will make the most of what he has. When it gets taken away from you, you go back hungrier than ever.
Irish horses are favourites for most of the 28 races which is incredible when you consider how many were lost to Cheltenham.
I expect Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott to enjoy rewarding weeks, with Willie striking in the hurdling division, especially the novices, and Gordon leaving his mark in the handicaps.
Two years ago, I had my first ride in the Festival on Sizing John in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and he gave me a great thrill to finish third behind Douvan.
The pair avoid each other this week as Douvan runs in the Champion chase and ‘Sizing’ goes for the Gold Cup over a distance he has never run.
He gave me great moments in my career and I’m sorry he didn’t step up in distance before now. I’ll talk about Friday’s feature race closer to the off but I know Robbie Power has great faith in him.
I could have gone over and experienced the Festival firsthand but rest is the key to recovery. I had an operation on to re-attach tendons in my shoulder and repair a chipped bone, so I’ll take it handy for a while.
I’m looking down the road to returning in Killarney or Galway in July by which time I’ll have missed almost 12 months’ racing.
It’s tough on the mind especially when you see horses winning that you might have ridden, but you have to be stay positive.
Financially, it’s not easy but the assistance of the Injured Jockey’s Fund helps with the bills.
In between checking on how the chickens are doing, I’ll follow all the races from Cheltenham and hopefully point the way to a few winners.