Turley off to a flying start with Toomebridge double

Downpatrick-based handler Patrick Turley began the new point-to-point season in style, saddling a first-and-last race double at Toomebridge on the opening day of the campaign.

Both winners were partnered by fellow Downpatrick native and long-time ally Declan Lavery.

 

Turley himself was not present at Toomebridge, as he was attending the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale in Newmarket, where he has three youngsters consigned under his Kingsfield Stud banner.

 

Initiating a fifth career training double for Turley was Goffs Arkle Sale graduate Walkinthemournes. This well-bred daughter of Walk In The Park is out of a half-sister to the Alan King-trained multiple Grade 1 winner Katchit.

 

In what was a four-runner affair, the four-year-old debutante mare cruised into the lead from three out and went on to score by a very comfortable six lengths at the line.

 

Turley was confident going into Saturday that Walkinthemournes would make a winning debut.

 

“I have only seen the video of the race, but Deckie was very happy with her and said she was never out of second gear," he said.

"It was a pity that the favourite, Ger Quinn’s horse, fell as that would have given us a better marker, but our mare was always travelling well. She has a nice attitude, jumps well, and she will now look for a new postcode. She’ll be a lovely mare for someone going forward.”

 

Turley and Lavery completed their brace when former track performer He’s Ultimate put his experience to good use, battling gamely to score by a length from newcomer Dunaird.

 

Trained by Turley as a four-year-old when finishing second on debut in a Loughanmore four-year-old maiden, the son of Champs Elysees was purchased by Mouse O’Ryan and joined Gordon Elliott’s Cullentra stable. After five track runs, the seven-year-old has now returned to Turley’s care.

 

Turley thought that He’s Ultimate might have needed the run and, explaining the gelding’s return to his stable.

 

“He’s Ultimate has had a number of niggly problems in the past and the owner, Phil Polly, sent him back to me for point-to-pointing.

"We will look for a winners’ race next and, if things go well, a hunter chase could be on the cards later in the season. He will be a nice fun horse for Phil.”

 

With ten horses geared up for the autumn campaign, and two winners from just three runners over the weekend, Turley was understandably pleased with how his team has started the new season.

 

“The horses seem very healthy and fit,” he noted.

 

Turley, who rode 11 point-to-point winners as an amateur before turning to training in 2012, enjoyed his best season in 2023/24, sending out ten winners for a remarkable 45% strike rate.

 

Despite training a relatively small string, Turley’s focus has always been on quality rather than quantity.

 

“If I don’t think a horse is going to make the grade, I don’t run them, I’d rather give them away than waste time running them.”

 

He has also built a strong reputation for producing talented mares.

 

“The mares are cheaper to buy and we don’t do anything differently,” he explained. “All the horses are trained the same way, but I seem to have good luck with mares.”

 

Alongside his training operation, Turley runs Kingsfield Stud, which keeps him busy buying, selling, and consigning young stock.

 

“Training point-to-pointers is my main focus, but we buy and sell a good few.

 

“I’m in Newmarket this week with a few, then it will be on to the foal sales in December to stock up again.”

 

Last season Turley produced several exciting young horses who went on to make impressive prices in the sales ring ; A Chara (£70,000), She’s Delighted (£50,000), She’s A Fair Maid (£200,000), and Lultimatom (£225,000). Turley takes great satisfaction in seeing his former graduates succeed under rules.

 

“I enjoy following them when they go on to win races and give their new owners plenty of fun.” 

 

Turley laughs that his career as a trainer was born out of necessity rather than design.

 

“I wasn’t a very good rider, so I had to turn my hand to training! When you can’t ride, you need a back-up plan,  and mine was training! There’s definitely more responsibility and pressure with training. It’s a 24/7 job, but I love it.”

 

A huge part of his success has been his long-time friendship and partnership with Declan Lavery.

 

“Deckie and I have been great friends for years, since we both worked in Brian Hamilton’s yard,” Turley explained.

 

“We work well together and buy and sell a lot of horses between us. Deckie and I do most of the schooling and ride the work, and Noel McParlan rides for us occasionally when we need him. We have a great team and work well together.”

 

Behind the scenes, Turley’s wife Mary plays a vital role, balancing family life with the demands of a busy stable.

 

“My wife Mary is a great support. We have four kids, and she must feel like a single mother at times, but she loves it as much as I do and I’m extremely grateful for her.”

 

Looking ahead to the rest of the season, Turley has his eyes on consistency and enjoyment rather than numbers.

 

“I don’t really measure success by winners.

 

“As long as we sell more horses than we buy, that’s success for me. I just want to continue producing nice horses and keeping owners happy. It’s nice to be able to provide quality horses for their new trainers.”

 

And when asked for one to follow, Turley doesn’t hesitate.

 

“I think He’s Ultimate will be a nice horse to follow this season.  He should pick up a couple of points and hopefully be competitive in hunter chases.”

With his team in fine form and a proven eye for a good horse, Patrick Turley has made a perfect start to the 2025/26 season with  two winners on the board, horses in good form, and plenty more to look forward to.