Cork Racing: Brian Hayes savours homecoming success

ROSCARBERRY’S Brian Hayes was back on Leeside and enjoyed a fruitful return with the victory of Meetingofthewaters in the concluding beginners chase at Cork Racecourse on Sunday. 

With the jumps season now in full swing Hayes is enjoying an excellent run of late and is a vital cog in the Willie Mullins team. Following his victory, he outlined his plans for the upcoming season.

“It’s always great to ride a winner here at Mallow and this track has always been good to me. 

"Patrick Mullins owns this fella and told me he really fancied him, so I checked with Philip Fenton, trainer of unplaced Japers Jack and he said it was ok to swap," Brian Hayes said. 

"Paddy thought he'd win, he had been working well and was confident coming back to 0-116 beginners, which was a big drop-in class. 

"He was confident enough he'd do the business. I was behind the leader Ideal Du Tabert but I had a look behind and the others were a long way behind. 

I knew it was an exaggerated gap and I was happy I'd pick up the leader. He had a small scare at the last, that was all. 

"I think he is entered in the (Paddy Power Chase, at Christmas) but this was a 0-116 at the end of the day."

With so many horses being trained by the big three of Willie Mullins, Gordon Elliot and Henry De Bromhead it can difficult to get on good horses. 

But Brian Hayes has wisely spread his time among a number of trainers including Colm Murphy when he is not riding out at Closutton for Mullins. 

Hard work and perseverance has got him this far but finding a balance between the highs and lows of jump racing can be a real balancing act.

“I suppose the new season started with a bit of a downer really as Impervious is a major doubt for the season with an injury. She is a fabulous mare and she gave me my first Cheltenham Festival winner back in March.

"The build-up to that race was unreal and all the talk was about a match between my horse and a horse of Willie’s called Allegorie De Vassy. 

SURREAL

"All your life as a jockey you dream of having a winner at Cheltenham and when it happened it was just a surreal feeling. 

"My two sisters were there and a childhood friend from home called Michael Mennis. I suppose that gave me a taste for it and I was lucky enough to ride a second winner at Cheltenham with Baby Kate a couple of weeks ago at their November meeting. 

She is a lovely mare and is owned by the former Ireland and Cork City star Kevin Doyle. 

"She is leased out to a few friends of Patrick's so it was another memorable day. It’s a special place to win any time of the year really and sets me up nicely for the new season. 

"It’s great to be back with all the good horses coming out of Mullins now and this week it’s Fairyhouse and it's back to Cork the following week for the Hilly Way Chase. 

"We probably have about 200 horses in training at Willie Mullins so it’s all systems go really.” 

ROUTINE

The daily grind of being a successful jockey includes early mornings across the midlands while also priming some of the bigger stars of the game. 

“A normal week involves riding out at Willie’s three mornings a week. I will ride out at Colm Murphy’s, Michael Bowe and Philip Fenton on the other mornings and these trainers give me plenty of rides so it’s great to have a few different options going on. 

"Towards the weekends at Mullins, we would tune up some of the bigger stars so it’s great to be involved in the preparation of horses like Galophin Des Champs, Allaho and Gaelic Warrior. 

"El Fabiola was a brilliant winner of the Arkle last season and is currently favourite for the Champion Chase. It will be terrific to see him make his seasonal debut here in Cork.

”The bottom line in this game is you just keep your head down and take the opportunities when they come along. 

Like most sports people avoiding injuries is huge and is particularly so in the sport of horse racing. 

"With so many horses at Mullins, you never know what you will get on and you’ll always have a chance in the big races."