Sean Quinlan has been told he is like a good red wine – he’s getting better with age.
In the midst of one of his most successful campaigns, he today rides the hope of the north Sounds Russian in the Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham where, by his own admission, he has a poor record.
When he first came to England, Cheltenham was one of his local tracks but, now based in Cumbria, he returns as one of the season’s form riders with 48 wins as he bids to follow his best ever score of 78 last season.
“I’ve had one winner at Cheltenham but I’ve never had a winner at the Festival despite having had plenty of rides down there,” said the 39-year-old.
“The record is not great. You have to be in the right place at the right time and you’ve got to be on the right horses, and luckily in the last six or seven years I am getting those opportunities.”
Quinlan started with Richard Phillips in Stow-on-the-Wold, riding for the likes of Kim Bailey and Charlie Longsdon, and then Jennie Candlish before he moved north.
He lives in the village of Bolton where wife Lizzie now trains, having taken over the licence from mother Barbara Butterworth.
“Sue and Harvey Smith got me going and were very good to me,” said Quinlan.
“Richard Hale became my agent and he got me in with Nicky Richards, Donald McCain – everyone I ride for basically.”
Takingrisks was “the horse of my career” for Quinlan, who gained his biggest win on the Richards-trained stayer in the 2019 Scottish National, also landing the Rehearsal Chase the same year and the Sky Bet Chase in 2021.
He has come in for the ride on Sounds Russian because regular partner Callum Bewley is injured. He will miss an important test for the Ruth Jefferson-trained chaser who is on trial for the Gold Cup.
“Callum had a fall schooling at home so that’s the reason I am riding,” said Quinlan.
“Watching his races, he has been progressing nicely through handicaps.
“He was just beaten by Into Overdrive in the Rowland Meyrick giving 15lb to the winner and he was second to L’Homme Presse at Newcastle, so he’s obviously a nice horse.
“He ran well in the Many Clouds where he only just got done for a turn of foot in the straight.
“I think Cheltenham will suit him a lot more.”
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