Andrew Kinirons, a young Kildare trainer with a very bright future

Ladytown, Co Kildare trainer Andrew Kinirons emerged as one of the stories of Cheltenham 2025 with media coverage keen to chat to the top man in a yard of just 20 competing against the likes of Mullins, Cromwell, and O’Brien.

He said, “I remember when I was starting out a guy told me that the first five years of training horses is like the first circuit of the Grand National, just make sure you are still going and in as good a position as you can be. I was in a rush to get things going and as time went on, and five years passed, you really do learn from doing. Building up relationships with owners and finding the jockeys that suit you and that you can trust.”

“We started during Covid and it was probably the worst time to start, but it was great to get started. We are going to build on that first five years now and it takes a long time, especially when you don’t have a couple of hundred horses.”

The intrigue in Andrew had plenty of validity too with Aintree further demonstrating modern racing’s ‘super yard’ dominance with Willie Mullins counting four of his horses among the first five finishers in the Grand National.

“Ireland is the most competitive region in the world to train so it is great when you can compete here and it means a lot. You are not spoiled for races and you learn very quickly. In Ireland you have to be 100% right and it can be frustrating that there isn't enough racing, but it makes you sharper and you appreciate when you do get the success. It is a case of picking your battles. If you compete in a Maiden in Ireland you can sell a horse nearly anywhere in the world. We are still selling away, but hopefully we can keep building and keep more to become competitive in the big festivals,” Andrew explained.

Luker’s Tipple, Andrew’s second Cheltenham Festival runner, was the horse that gained traction for the Kildare trainer this time around and there was a feeling that they were in with a chance as things were building up.

“The horse got struck in his tendon during the race and it was only after that we saw it. He was very sore after it, but he’s alright and he ran in Bellewstown and was just beaten on the line. He is going to get a break now because he has been on the go since his debut in September. He’ll get a few weeks in the paddock and he’ll be ready to go then for the summer,” Andrew said.

Some place
“We were over there for a few days for the build-up and the riding out in the mornings. It is some place and it is hard to describe. I reconnected with a lot of people I hadn’t talked to in years. So many people in Ireland watch the big meetings and there was a great bit of crack going to Cheltenham. I think we are going to target more races in England because there are good opportunities for them. The travel was difficult at the start with Brexit, but they are getting a handle on it now and what you have to do.”

One of the most important horses in Andrew’s early years as a trainer was his first Cheltenham runner, Hidden Land, although not necessarily for what she did in Prestbury Park.

Since being bought for £2,500 in Tattersalls, Hidden Land won seven races for Andrew and accumulated over €70,000 in prize money.

“She won three races last year and was actually in foal. She is due to have a foal this year. Hidden land is a very keen horse and she loved Downpatrick. The owner was actually from the North originally so it was gas. She won four of her six races in Downpatrick and finished third in the others. We bought her in Tattersalls at a mares sale for £2,500 and Peter Byrne had her. It is hard to come by horses for that sort of money, but it does show you that they can be found,” Andrew recalled.

The mare achieved an incredible return on investment and Andrew thinks the change to a smaller yard was the key to unlocking her potential.

“The way we train them suited her too. She was in a big yard in France and the way we do things would naturally be a bit different. With the smaller set-up the horses get out to the paddock and things are not as regimented as the big yards have to be so that is an advantage that we have. We bring them to the beach and they can get a bit more one-on-one attention generally. That is a niche we are working on towards,” Andrew explained.

Andrew and the team are excited about tackling more festivals this year with successes in their last visit to Galway with two wins from two runs, as well as a couple of hopefuls for the flat in Ascot this year as well.

All those potential runners will be donning the yards now trademark yellow bridles with red reigns. Initially inspired as something light-hearted for Andrew’s Spanish fiancée Teresa, the look has served as the perfect marker for owners and supporters hoping to spot a Kinirons trained horse.

The Ladytown trainer’s origins in the horse racing game came as an amateur jockey and, despite a bad fall in England that cut his riding career short, Andrew emerged with plenty of fond memories from his time in the saddle.

“I had my first ride on my 16th birthday in Tinaheely on a horse called Red Setter and that horse ended up being my first winner on the track too. He won the Ladies Cup in Punchestown,” Andrew said.

“We had all grown up going to Punchestown, Naas and The Curragh. Everyone from school would get a day off and get dressed up to go to the Festival. I remember they used to have pig racing over a few bails, which probably wouldn’t be allowed nowadays.”

Having grown up not too far from the track itself, this time of year is one of the most exciting for the trainer and the Kildare man thinks the Punchestown Festival remains a huge part of local culture.

“Everyone enjoys Punchestown and it was great to have that winner. I remember Fr Breen, the racing priest, he was from Rathmore I think and he always used to have horses. He tipped Red Setter at Punchestown that year and it was a great occasion then. I went to school with a lot of the locals there and it was great to have my first winner come at Punchestown.

“That was my first winner on the track after a few point-to-point winners for Michael O’Brien. Punchestown has been a very lucky track for me. I had my first win there as an owner and a trainer too.”

It is all hands on deck in Andrew’s operation with family, friends, and locals all having pitched into their horse training adventure. As well as managing four-legged racers, Andrew and his fiancée Teresa have two small children to contend with too.

Andrew said, “It is hard work, but we love it. We brought our three-month old boy Fionn to the races in Naas for the first time and it will be nice when they are getting a little older too.

“We have a two year-old, Danni, and our three-month old boy. My little one will be out in the yard looking around and she is gas. She wants to lead the horses and sit up on them, it is so nice to have them out. Hopefully they will still enjoy it in 10 years time,” he laughed.

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