Conditional jockeys' title race set to go to the wire at Punchestown with the top two separated by just two wins

All of the major Irish jumps championships have been wrapped up before the season reaches its conclusion on Saturday with the exception of the conditional riders' award. From leading trainer to champion professional and amateur jockey, various titles have been secured with time to spare and are being readied for transport to Closutton.

Willie Mullins, whose domestic prize-money haul should again soar way beyond €5 million by the end of the week, will win a record-extending 19th trainers’ championship. Paul Townend, whose task was made easier by the injury-plagued season of outgoing champion Jack Kennedy, will top the jockeys' pile for the seventh time, while Grand National-winning rider Patrick Mullins will collect his 17th amateurs' title. And JP McManus will retain his owners' crown. 

But while those honours are safely in the bag, the conditional jockeys’ championship, so often fiercely contested, again hangs in the balance. 

There are just two wins between the top two riders, with Tiernan Power Roche on 29 wins and John Shinnick on 27. Cian Quirke sits third but trails by a further two and is now effectively out of the race due to the rule that precludes any wins after a jockey rides out their claim, something he is just one victory away from achieving.

To add to the intrigue, Power Roche, the 27-year-old front-runner from Wexford, has been ruled out of the final week due to suspension, so his fate lies out of his hands.

Nonetheless, Power Roche, who rides primarily for Wicklow-based trainer Philip Rothwell, has enjoyed an incredible first season as a conditional, having previously ridden as an amateur. Should he and Shinnick finish level, Power Roche could edge the title on countback, having four seconds more than his rival at this stage. 

Despite his advantage, he is cautious about his chances given Shinnick has five days of racing to work with, although he appreciates the season he has had regardless. 

“I'm not confident about taking the prize at all,” Power Roche said. “It’s horseracing so anything could happen. I'm more hopeful than confident, but it has been a brilliant season. Winning would be the biggest highlight; if I can pull it off, it would mean everything.”

Shinnick, who has one ride on Tuesday aboard Must Go Now in the Albert Bartlett Triple Crown Series Final, has a clear target to aim at. It could go right to the penultimate race on Saturday.  

“I’m going to try to grab as many rides as I can, but it will be tough,” said Shinnick. “Obviously it’s good for my chances that Tiernan is suspended, but it’s hard to ride winners at Punchestown.”

The 23-year-old Cork man has built up a great rapport with Terence O’Brien, for whom he has ridden eight winners this season. 

“I was an apprentice to Ger Lyons for three years and then I went to England," he said. "I wasn't really enjoying it to be honest. I didn’t like the lifestyle over there. There were plenty of opportunities to get rides, but nothing beats riding a winner at home.”

Come what may, the young man is looking to the future and savouring his success. “I hope to keep climbing the ladder and get some more winners," he says. "I'm enjoying it, which is the main thing, because this is one game that can melt your head quickly.”

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