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Jack Cleary learning from the best

The Champion Apprentice contender is having a season to remember

Thursday, 23 October 2025
Jack Cleary learning from the best

Jack Cleary celebrates on the way to a four-timer at Leopardstown

Jack Cleary has revelled at stepping up to the plate for Aidan O’Brien after enjoying a breakout year in the saddle, writes Phil Campbell.

The 22-year-old finds himself right in the thick of the scrap to be crowned champion apprentice jockey after riding four winners during a sensational performance at Leopardstown last week.

Cleary, who was also celebrating his birthday at the Dublin-based track, won aboard favourite Amelia Earhart, Christmas Day, Dorset and River Ara, all for trainer O’Brien.

The Naas-native’s resilient triumph aboard River Ara in the closing race led to racecourse commentator Jerry Hannon to describe it as "the best birthday ever", and Cleary paid homage to the opportunities he has had thanks to teaming up with O’Brien and Ballydoyle.

“Things are going great, can't complain,” said Cleary. “[I’m learning] plenty down there, working with the likes of Wayne Lordan and the rest. Every day I go down, I learn plenty, especially off Aidan too. He's given me great confidence and great opportunities.

“Every time you ride for Aidan, you're always learning something, and he's always filling you with confidence too, so it's easier to ride for someone like that, especially when you're learning the whole time.”

In what has been a stellar season, Cleary, who is the son of trainer Michael, enjoyed the biggest win of his career in the Goffs Million riding the 17/2-priced Dorset, a horse he knows well, at the Curragh in September.

It was a brilliant ride from the youngster who led with three furlongs to go before holding on to seal an impressive victory ahead of August George and favourite Composing ridden by friend Ronan Whelan.

“That’s a real topper, probably the highlight of my career so far,” said Cleary of the triumph. “Hopefully, I’ll get a few more on the CV.

“He [Dorset] was probably flying under the radar a small bit, but we always thought a lot of him at home. Everything worked out, thankfully.

“Aidan said, ‘just keep it simple on him, just jump and go forward, have him travelling well throughout’. He hit the line great that day. He’s definitely a good horse going forward.”

Whelan was the first person to congratulate Cleary after the win, who couldn’t put into words what it meant to him to finish first that day.
 

"That’s a great feeling, it’s indescribable,” he said.

“Ronan is a great pal of mine. He's down there three mornings a week and he's always there if you need to ask him something as well, so he's a great pal to have.” 

Riding for O’Brien, Cleary has had the chance to partner up with some brilliant horses this term – Dorset being one of them – but when looking back on who has been the best, Cleary was quick to make his decision.

“It's probably Precise,” said Cleary, who won the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden atop the two-year-old – the horse’s first win.

“She's very good, isn't she? Down in Cork that day, she really put it to bed fairly snugly, and it shows, she’s very tough.”

Precise has since gone on to win a further three races, including the Group 1 bet365 Fillies' Mile at Newmarket earlier this month, and Cleary is enjoying seeing the horse delivering more success.

He said: “You get a great kick watching them, especially when you’ve ridden them and won their maiden on them too. It's great to watch them progress.”

With the flat season soon drawing to a close, Cleary’s stock has certainly ridden ahead of next year regardless of how the champion apprentice race finishes, and he’s hoping to continue to learn his trade back home over the off-season.

He added: “I’ll stay here for the winter, try to keep progressing, and put my name out there a small bit more. That’s the plan.”



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