'He is a proper one' - Sean Flanagan reveals an exciting horse to follow

Sean Flanagan is certainly not a man to rest on his laurels. Jockey, valet and aspiring pilot, he currently sits seventh in the Irish jump Jockeys’ Championship and has some exciting times ahead.

Flanagan recently took over as stable jockey to trainer Barry Connell, following the trainer’s split with Michael O’Sullivan and will be Marine Nationale’s new pilot in the Grade 1 over 2m1f at Leopardstown this Christmas.

Flanagan was speaking to BoyleSports, who will be offering the best Leopardstown Christmas Festival odds, about his new role, horses to keep an eye on and juggling his multiple endeavours.

Upon receiving the call from Barry Connell offering him the ride aboard two-time Grade 1 winner, Marine Nationale, Flanagan said:

“I was just about to go out for a maiden hurdle in Tipperary! It wasn’t a job offer, he just asked if I would come and school a few horses for him.

“He didn't mention any names. I said, ‘Of course.’ Then there was a second conversation later in the afternoon and he told me, ‘It’s Marine Nationale. Would you like to ride him?’ I said,’ Bloody hell, yes!

“That’s the type of call you always hope for but seldom comes.

“I actually sat on him before he ever ran! I have quite a history with Barry and have ridden plenty of winners for him back along the way when he was between riders.

I had sat on him and worked him before he ever ran in a bumper. I have followed him all the way through since then.

“I haven’t dipped my toe in much with him yet. We have jumped off in Punchestown and done a lap around the fences. He rode like a very high class chaser but we didn’t do much. It was just a general racecourse school.

“It was nice to have a sit on him. Barry’s horses are in very good form and a couple of days afterwards I had a winner and two seconds for him at Fairyhouse.”

Good Land is another smart type for the yard and finished a promising third on Saturday in a Beginners’ Chase at Navan. Flanagan was encouraged by the run:

“It was an impressive start, it was a very good Beginners’ Chase. He jumped fantastic. I’d imagine he’s come forward from the run and the experience.

“He’s a horse with Christmas in mind around Leopardstown. He’s a classy horse and it was a very good run for a first run back after quite a lay off.”

On looking ahead to Leopardstown at Christmas he continued:

“Marine Nationale will obviously go for the Grade 1 Chase at Leopardstown. It’ll be a great race. He’s fully entitled to be there.

“For a freelance and the problem we all have, we are waiting for say Keith (Donoghue) to make his mind up where he is going and you pick up whatever is floating around.

“I’ll just be looking forward to riding the best possible horse in whatever race I can. That’s the way I have been thinking about it for the last while. But I am enjoying that because I am not putting pressure on myself.”

One to keep an eye on in Flanagan’s view is a talented dual bumper winner:

“William Munny. He’s a very smart horse. He’s won two bumpers and is a horse you’re going to look forward to getting your leg across.

“He was third in the Champion Bumper at Punchestown - he is a proper one.”

The jockey’s go-getting approach to life drove him to recently take over a valet business and speaking about his motivation behind the move he said:

“Riding is all consuming and most jockeys don’t have time to think of a plan for after they finish. All being well you’ll get to 41 or 42 as a jump jockey.

“Even if you’ve had a good career, you’re too young to put your feet up. I thought I needed some sort of a plan. I’d started flying, with a thought that I could become a commercial pilot when I finished. That is still in the back of my mind.

“I was at the races one day and talking to one of the valets and he said why don’t I buy the business from the Fox brothers who’d been involved for 70 years through three generations. I had a chat with them and with the wife and one thing led to another.

“I have no intention of retiring any time soon. But it was a business I knew having been in the weighing room for the past 20 years.

“We got stuck in and after a year it’s going well. We have a great team of lads and it’s a big cushion. I was out injured as I say in the summer and instead of sitting at home wondering what to do, I was in the van driving round helping the boys out. I wasn’t having to worry and look at the funds dwindling!

“I wasn’t actively looking but I was open to the idea of something. When the door opened, I made the jump. It does work. Even if I’m riding, I can help out. There’s not too much juggling!”