Neve Bennett

I'm from Newent, a town in Gloucestershire, England. I got into racing through my mother as she always had something to do with horses and there were horses on the farm that I used to go to. I was involved with horses from about 11 or 12. When I was older, I saw an advert up for the British Racing School in Newmarket, so I went up there and did the course. It was a good experience and I was glad to get a job after it.

I went straight from the course to Hugo Palmer's. I was there for maybe a year, a year and a bit. I was riding out there and going racing and doing a bit of everything - they let me see everything, so I could kind of get an idea of what I wanted to do in racing. It was good. I went to Richard Spencer after that and broadened my riding career there, I learned more. I was there for roughly another year.

A friend of mine had friends in Ireland, so we came over one weekend and I liked it over here. I decided to move over and got a job with Dermot Weld. I didn't get a riding licence until I came to Ireland. I had an amateur licence when I was in there and I had my own horse and was riding him. His stable name was Billy and he was known as Bill Hickok on the track.

I decided I was too light for an amateur as I was carrying a lot of lead and it was just pointless. I decided to go apprentice and took that licence out with Darren Bunyan. I got my first ride for him and was beaten by a head on Snow Patch by Donagh O'Connor on Eleuthera at the Curragh in August 2020. I was close on my first ride and got a bit of a taste of it. I was then getting chances in Bill Farrell's. Bill needed a rider and I was interested. I knew I would get something there if I worked hard. I took it on and went there. He's a very smart man and if he says something, it is for a good reason. We have a good trust in each other. It works well, I work hard for him and he gives me the chances.

My first winner was on She's In The Game for Bill at the Curragh in August 2021. It all happened very fast, everything was a bit of a blur for a minute! I was delighted and it was a big relief just to get that first one. It was a close enough finish as I won by a short head. I had been placed on her four times and was runner-up on her on her previous three starts.

I rode a winner on Sondheim for my partner Craig O'Neill down in Cork (in June 2022). It was also by a short head and Kyanna Van Buuren was second (on No Patience). We ride Sondheim out at about 6.30am before we go to work in John O'Donoghue's for the morning. I'm in John's in the morning and Bill's in the afternoon. My apprentice licence has moved to John, it makes sense as I'm in there in the mornings. Craig is up the rankings a bit in John's, so I don't really see him that much in there. I would be riding out and he would be working with John. We get on very well, so it is easy enough working together. John trains where John Oxx used to be in Currabeg and it is a beautiful yard. There is plenty of room to do everything you want to do and everything you need is in one spot. Craig has Sondheim at the minute and a few others to come through and we will eventually get them to the track when they are ready. He is looking to take on more.

This season I'd like to get as many rides as I can and as many winners as I can. I would like to see different tracks and build my experience up. I have seven winners. She's In The Game has been a big part of my early career as I've had four winners on her. She's a very hardy, genuine filly. Every time I ride her, she gives it her all. A big part of it is getting one or two horses that can help you come through. Everyone needs that chance to come through, she has definitely been mine. I find every year she feels stronger to ride and she just feels like she is progressing all the time. There is a level she will get to, but she feels good at the minute so that is all you can ask for. My best days in racing so far were riding the first winner for Bill on She's In The Game and riding the first winner for Craig because I know how much that meant to him.

The racing industry is brilliant if you are prepared to put in the hard work and understand that you have to ride out in the cold, rainy days! It is a brilliant sport to be in. I think the good days completely outweigh the bad days. I had two winners from my last two rides in Dundalk this month, so hopefully I get a few rides from that. We just have to wait and see what happens. I would like to take on more outside rides, I think I need to get out there a bit. I am very excited for the start of the Flat season. There's a good buzz in John and Bill's yards and Craig has a nice few horses that we are looking at. Hopefully, we will all get a few winners.