Conor Stone-Walsh relishing life over jumps
The Wexford native has been tipped for success by Grand National winner Davy Russell
Wednesday, 24 January 2024
Stone-Walsh moved from Joseph O'Brien's yard to Gavin Cromwell's after the conclusion of the 2023 Flat season
Everyone wants to be champion jockey but Iām a long way from there and will just try and get as many winners as I can - Conor Stone-Walsh
Conor Stone-Walsh was fretting over his future a few months ago – now he’s set to race at Dublin Racing Festival for the first time, writes Ben Hart.
Stone-Walsh, 17, finished third in the 2023 Flat Champion Apprentice standings but knew his weight would demand a move to the jumps sooner or later.
The Wexford native made the move seamlessly, winning on his first ride over hurdles for the Gavin Cromwell-trained Dgalwaygallivantor.
“It was a great year,” he reflected. “Hopefully there will be more of the same in 2024. I’ve learned loads every day from lots of different people.”
Stone-Walsh burst onto the scene late in 2022 with his first win under rules, setting the tone for an eye-catching season which yielded 24 wins from just 201 rides – a strike rate only Sean Bowen topped among all apprentices with 10 or more winners.
The teenager said after his victory onboard Malaysian, then trained by Charlie Moore, that he had been “waiting forever for this to come,” and he still pinches himself when thinking back to that auspicious night in Dundalk.
“I was in shock, I didn't think I'd won,” he recalled.
“I just got up on the line and I remember Jake Coen pulled up beside me and said well done.
“I was like, geez, I don't know, I think I’m beat, but when we were cantering back I saw it on the screen and it was pure delight.”
Stone-Walsh joined Joseph O’Brien’s yard at the age of 15 and admits he could not have asked for a better, and crucially more patient, mentor.
“Joseph was very good to me,” he explained. “With everything really, speed, loads of stuff. We were there every day doing stalls and things in the afternoons, it was brilliant.
“There was no pressure riding for Joseph, just keep everything simple and if you get beat you get beat.
“My time riding on the flat was really beneficial for a good judge of speed over jumps.”
With lots of prior schooling experience under his belt, Stone Walsh was always open to the idea of a switch to jumps.
Adolescence forced his hand, but he has no regrets over the move.
“One day I was on my way to the sauna and I'd accepted defeat at that stage over my weight,” he said.
“I rang my agent, Kevin O’Ryan, and we just chatted about a few places that we could go and we both agreed on Gavin [Cromwell]. Kevin rang him for me first and then I spoke to Gavin.
“It was just a few days after the end of the Flat season and I knew I couldn't keep going where I was, so I finished in Joseph’s on the Saturday and started in Gavin's on the Monday.
“It's been a quick progression, but it's been great.”
Stone-Walsh has been riding for as long as he can remember, citing his uncle Benny, a point-to-point jockey, as an early inspiration.
After impressing on his first few months on the National Hunt circuit, not least with a win on his first ride over fences for 7/1 chance Solness, Stone-Walsh seems destined for bigger things.
And with idol and Grand National-winning jockey Davy Russell among his admirers, it seems there is nothing to stop him from emulating his heroes.
“I always looked up to the likes of Ruby Walsh, AP McCoy, Davy Russell and Barry Geraghty,” he added.
“I remember watching Cheltenham when I was small and Our Conor’s win just stuck with me – Brian Cooper was riding that so I looked up to him for years.
“Everyone wants to be champion jockey but I’m a long way from there and will just try and get as many winners as I can.
“I couldn't have asked for a better start.”
Stone-Walsh, 17, finished third in the 2023 Flat Champion Apprentice standings but knew his weight would demand a move to the jumps sooner or later.
The Wexford native made the move seamlessly, winning on his first ride over hurdles for the Gavin Cromwell-trained Dgalwaygallivantor.
“It was a great year,” he reflected. “Hopefully there will be more of the same in 2024. I’ve learned loads every day from lots of different people.”
Stone-Walsh burst onto the scene late in 2022 with his first win under rules, setting the tone for an eye-catching season which yielded 24 wins from just 201 rides – a strike rate only Sean Bowen topped among all apprentices with 10 or more winners.
The teenager said after his victory onboard Malaysian, then trained by Charlie Moore, that he had been “waiting forever for this to come,” and he still pinches himself when thinking back to that auspicious night in Dundalk.
š£ "I can't believe it."
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) December 2, 2022
Conor Stone-Walsh recorded his first career victory having taken out his licence at the end of May. An apprentice with @JosephOBrien2, he completes his leaving cert next year š pic.twitter.com/E3MV8nIAi1
“I was in shock, I didn't think I'd won,” he recalled.
“I just got up on the line and I remember Jake Coen pulled up beside me and said well done.
“I was like, geez, I don't know, I think I’m beat, but when we were cantering back I saw it on the screen and it was pure delight.”
Stone-Walsh joined Joseph O’Brien’s yard at the age of 15 and admits he could not have asked for a better, and crucially more patient, mentor.
“Joseph was very good to me,” he explained. “With everything really, speed, loads of stuff. We were there every day doing stalls and things in the afternoons, it was brilliant.
“There was no pressure riding for Joseph, just keep everything simple and if you get beat you get beat.
“My time riding on the flat was really beneficial for a good judge of speed over jumps.”
With lots of prior schooling experience under his belt, Stone Walsh was always open to the idea of a switch to jumps.
Adolescence forced his hand, but he has no regrets over the move.
“One day I was on my way to the sauna and I'd accepted defeat at that stage over my weight,” he said.
“I rang my agent, Kevin O’Ryan, and we just chatted about a few places that we could go and we both agreed on Gavin [Cromwell]. Kevin rang him for me first and then I spoke to Gavin.
“It was just a few days after the end of the Flat season and I knew I couldn't keep going where I was, so I finished in Joseph’s on the Saturday and started in Gavin's on the Monday.
“It's been a quick progression, but it's been great.”
Stone-Walsh has been riding for as long as he can remember, citing his uncle Benny, a point-to-point jockey, as an early inspiration.
After impressing on his first few months on the National Hunt circuit, not least with a win on his first ride over fences for 7/1 chance Solness, Stone-Walsh seems destined for bigger things.
An incredible start to Conor Stone-Walsh's career over jumps continues as he guides Solness to victory in the Listed @EASYFIXEquine Handicap Chase at @Fairyhouse š pic.twitter.com/RE3X1GMeca
— Horse Racing Ireland (@HRIRacing) December 2, 2023
And with idol and Grand National-winning jockey Davy Russell among his admirers, it seems there is nothing to stop him from emulating his heroes.
“I always looked up to the likes of Ruby Walsh, AP McCoy, Davy Russell and Barry Geraghty,” he added.
“I remember watching Cheltenham when I was small and Our Conor’s win just stuck with me – Brian Cooper was riding that so I looked up to him for years.
“Everyone wants to be champion jockey but I’m a long way from there and will just try and get as many winners as I can.
“I couldn't have asked for a better start.”