Kildare's Padraig Roche; born into racing and carving his own path

It’s been over six years since Padraig Roche took over the mantle of training in his family, following in the footsteps of legendary father Christy was never going to be easy, but was also almost inevitable.

“Dad was obviously a jockey and I was going racing with him everyday when I wasn’t in school. I would go down to (Jim) Bolger’s with him or Aidan’s (O’Brien) then after that. There were always horses around and I was with him most of the time anyways,” Padraig said.

“As Dad got older he was training a few horses and I was riding out then because at that age he was training full-time. I was riding out every chance I could get.”

‘Dad’ is of course the legendary Christy Roche, former Irish flat racing Champion Jockey and winner of four of the five Irish classics, as well an Epsom Derby.

Padraig grew up in the elite training environment in Kildare that followed his father’s riding career and regularly rode Supreme Novices' Hurdle winner Like-A-Butterfly before heading to school.

“At a younger age all I wanted to do was ride, but I wasn’t that stupid. I knew I was only going to be an amateur. I always had a keen interest in what was going on in the yards. I was lucky enough to be in a couple of different ones, two summers in Ballydoyle, Conor O’Dwyer’s for a couple of years, and a few months with Kevin Prendergast. I was always interested in what way they did things and even my year in Australia in Randwick as well, so I was always picking up what different people were doing,” Padraig explained.

“From my mid-20s I did (have my eye on training). It always interested me.”

Despite having one eye on what was next, there was still plenty of enjoyment to be had for a young Padraig in the saddle and within his riding career that ran from 2002 on.

“I was lucky,” he said. “There were two champion amateurs before me and at the start Dad had a nice few bumper horses, but things were slowing down and getting a bit quiet.

“ I went to Conor’s (O’Dwyer) looking for more bumper horses and Frank (Berry) was always good to me with JP’s (McManus) horses as well. I enjoyed it, but I was never going to be a rich man doing it. I wasn't good enough.

“I couldn’t even tell you my last ride. I just lost interest towards the end and I was at home full-time.”

Took over
In 2018 Padraig officially took over Christy’s training licence and became the man on the ticket for Roche's yard.
“Dad was semi-retired and there were only a couple of horses there. He asked me one day if I fancied it and if I did that he would let me do it, so that is the way that it came about. There was no massive conversation about it, it was as simple as that,” Padraig recalled.

“A lot of people have known Dad a long-time and a good few of his owners were kind enough to give me the start and leave the horses with me. It was a good start having 10 to 15 horses with nice owners and it grew from there really.”

A month after the changeover, Padraig had his first winner as a trainer when Out Of The Loop was first past the post in Fairyhouse in late February. A win that was made all the more special by having close friend Mark Walsh on board.

“Dad is always there (for advice). He has his mares and foales, but he still always shows a keen interest. It is great to be able to ask someone like him for advice,” Padraig said.

“Out Of The Loop was Dad’s last winner too. He was a horse that I was riding at home the whole time and we liked him, so it was nice that he won and that Mark (Walsh) rode him as well. We have been good friends for a long time so it was great.”

Padraig and Mark’s bond was formed in their teenage years with summers spent with Aidan O’Brien in Ballydoyle.

Padraig’s first winner as a trainer wasn’t the only landmark victory with Mark on board either with Walsh riding Brazil to Padraig’s first Cheltenham win in the 2022 Boodles Handicap Hurdle.

“That was a dream. It is so hard over there and to get a winner after only training a couple of years was great. To get it for JP (McManus) and Frank (Berry) especially because they are so good to me and then for Mark to ride it was extra special,” Padraig recalled.

“It was a great day. I went over there, Ian Queally with me, we were riding him (Brazil) out there in the mornings. It was a great experience over the few days and he is a very straightforward horse. He has been very good to us.”

It is all about looking forward now for Padraig in his seventh year as a trainer, but he has no specific race targets beyond getting a good horse into his hands.

He said, “Cheltenham is major, but a good horse is always what you’re looking for. They are so hard to come by, but hopefully we can get a really good horse.”

That would be the dream and see how we go from there, added Padraig.

“When you’re doing the work and your name is on it, you know how much work has gone into getting a winner. It is very satisfying when it comes off. They don’t just win, you have to plan where they are going and it is always about looking long-term.”

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