A native of Tuam, County Galway, Tom Ryan has quickly established as one of Ireland’s most promising National Hunt riders and at the age of twenty one, he looks to have a bright future ahead of him.
He only had his first ride as an amateur rider four years ago and having ridden in around 20 races in which he rode one winner, he took a big step in turning professional but it is a decision that has worked out very well for him. Attached to the Michael O’Brien stable on the Curragh, Tom rode his first winner as a 7lb claiming professional when partnering Away Home to win at Limerick for his boss on St Stephen’s Day in 2003.
His next winner came just five days later on Newlands Gold in a valuable handicap hurdle at Fairyhouse on New Years Day and a fine double at Naas in early February raised his profile considerably. A good win on Michael O’Brien’s Kadoun in a competitive handicap hurdle at Fairyhouse later that month in which his 7lb claim was vital brought him to the attention of plenty of other trainers and soon this young talent was in big demand.
In that first season he rode winners for the likes of Pat Fahy, Noel Glynn and David Ryan and a good partnership with Pat Fahy’s Bluestone Lad saw him record two wins, both at Fairyhouse, on that particular horse. In November 2004, Tom rode the useful Native Stag to a nice win in the Ladbroke Racing Handicap Hurdle which was his first winner as a 5lb claimer while there were other victories on horses trained by the likes of Thomond O’Mara, Caroline Hutchinson and Gerry Cully. Kadoun provided him with his last winner as a 5lb claimer in a thrilling four way photo finish to a competitive event at Fairyhouse in late February before he partnered John Fowler’s Native Beat to win the Ulster National Handicap Steeplechase at Downpatrick over three and a half miles.
Success on Frances Crowley’s Monterey Bay soon followed and March 6th, 2005 at Clonmel will be a day that he will remember forever as he rode his first treble for three different trainers. An excellent double on Frances Crowley’s Kazan Lady and Haggle Twins at Killarney in early May won him new admirers while victory on Look Between Us in a valuable chase at Cork saw his profile rise even further including another fine double at Limerick in early July and a televised win on Michael O’Brien’s Young Elodie at the big Galway Festival
At the time of writing he only needs another 7 winners before he loses his 3lb claim and becomes a fully fledged professional. At that stage he will have to compete with the likes of Ruby Walsh, Barry Geraghty and Paul Carberry on a level playing field but this young man certainly has the talent to make it over the next couple of seasons and if he can stay free from injury and keep his weight under control, Tom Ryan is certainly a name we will be hearing a lot more about in Irish racing.
Info supplied by Horse Racing Ireland – October 2005
