Stories from the Saddle: Fionn Summers

28-year-old Fionn Summers continues to progress through the pointing ranks, having ridden his tenth career winner on Riskamatriark at Upcott Cross last weekend.

All smiles after victory at the weekend (Tim Holt)

Summers, originally from County Waterford in Ireland but now based near Minehead, has established plenty of connections since he moved across the water, and enjoyed his first success under rules in 2021. However, it took him nearly 100 rides to get off the mark between the flags, and he took time out from helping build a swimming pool – he is a groundworks contractor when not riding horses – to explain to Jake Exelby why injury has held him back, and the ups and downs of being a freelance.

Talk me through your career in racing so far and how you got into point-to-pointing in the first place?

I grew up in the countryside, near Villierstown. Mum and Dad weren’t horsey – they were journalists and non-fiction authors who have co-written Gold Dagger-winning and Pulitzer Prize-shortlisted books.

A neighbour was a Master of Foxhounds, and she taught me to ride ponies when I was five or six. I started hunting, then got a 24-year-old retired eventer. He wasn’t straightforward but taught me a lot.

I started showjumping, then producing hunt horses. My first job in racing was for Patrick Crowley, and I’d go to Charlie Swan’s in the summer holidays. I got my amateur licence and had two rides in point-to-points in Ireland, at Lingstown and Bartlemy.

What made you decide to come to England?

Mikey Hamill, a neighbour of mine who was riding as a conditional at the time, came home for the summer and said there was a job working as an amateur for Kim Bailey. I told Mum and Dad that I’d be back to take up a place studying Equine Business at Maynooth University but – ten years later – I’m still here. I knew university wasn’t for me.

I had one ride in my first season, at Maisemore Park, but got concussed.

How did your career develop?

I went to Tom Lacey’s, where I spent six months, then went to Devon to work for Richard Woollacott, just two weeks before he died. I stayed with (Woollacott’s wife) Kayley for two years and it was her who got me riding consistently in points.

I’d dislocated my left shoulder over 100 times (!) then had a fall at Bratton Down. I’d broken my rotator cuff, but didn’t know, so kept riding for a couple of months, then had surgery, which kept me out for the 2018/2019 season. When I came back, Kayley was moving to Chard, so I went to Nicky Martin’s, where I spent two years and really got going pointing. I may not have been on the best calibre of horse, but I was riding for some really genuine people.

You first win was Catchin Time for Laura Hurley at 125/1, just as amateurs were being allowed to ride again after Covid. Tell me about that day.

Laura’s always been a big supporter – I ended up riding a lot of hers, both in points and under rules. Catchin Time was 13, Laura’s second string, and I had to get down to 9st7lb. I felt like the winner turning for home – it was so easy that I thought we had another circuit to go. The same horse had been Laura’s previous winner, over four years before!

Fionn in close-up action on his first winner - Catchin Time at Wincanton

I know you’re freelance. How have you developed your connections in racing and pointing, in particular with the likes of Jane Williams and Stuart Sampson?

In the winners enclosure with Romancero Le Dun at Exeter

I spent a year with Paul Nicholls – how can you not learn, working with the likes of Harry Cobden and Bryony Frost? When I was there, I met Chester Williams, who was stopping riding, and he and his Mum Jane were looking for a 7lb claimer. So, I worked for Jane as an amateur for two years, and she was very good to me – I had plenty of rides on nice horses and rode in cross-country races in Italy, which was one of the best experiences of my life. I won on Romancero Le Dun for her at Exeter and Galice Macalo at Leicester.

Fionn winning on Galice Macalo at Leicester 

However, I then fell at Sedgefield riding Galice Macalo again. My left shoulder had been pinned, and I dislocated the right one. I had to have another operation and was out for nine months, just as things were starting to come together and I was riding more under rules than in points.

I didn’t know what to do after that. I no longer had a job with Jane. I considered turning conditional, but didn’t think I’d have enough support, so decided to stay amateur and go freelance.

Have saddle, will travel - Fionn schooling as a freelance

I started riding out for Stuart, who’s always been one of the best trainers in the West Country, which really increased the quality of horse I was riding. That got me more opportunities, rides and winners. I go to his three days a week and now ride most of his pointers.

You had – I think – 96 rides between the flags before your first P2P winner. Was there a time when you thought it wouldn’t come?

Pretty much every single weekend before my first winner, I’d drive home thinking, ‘Why am I doing this? Are the financial and physical strain worth it?’ If you’re not on the right horses, you’re not going to win. Pointing’s becoming increasingly competitive, it’s harder to get spare rides, and there are a small number of big yards who are in a different league.

What were your emotions when you won on Off The Press at Charlton Horethorne?

Fionn en route to victory on Off The Press (Tim Holt)

Firstly, a sense of relief. I’d spent so long banging my head against a wall and finally drove home with a smile on my face. I knew I could ride – I’d had winners under rules – and it felt well-deserved. We won against horses from big yards, Stuart can train as well as anyone and I was delighted to win for him and repay his loyalty. He and I do this because we love it and are appreciative when it pays off.

Celebrations after Off The Press wins

How did you get to ride Riskamatriark for Charlotte Leary?

I picked up a spare ride for her on Makety, an honest mare who always tries then – when Martin McIntyre got injured, I got my foot in the door to sit on her maidens. Seven out of my last eight rides for her have won or been placed and Riskamatriark’s a nice horse. He won his Maiden by a small margin, and we’d have been pleased to be placed at Upcott Cross in a competitive Restricted, but he jumped and travelled well and won convincingly. I think he can win an Intermediate next season.

Fionn winning on Riskamatriark at Upcott Cross (Tim Holt)

Which horse (not one of your own mounts) would you most like to ride?

Anything in an Open! I don’t get many rides in them (he’s ridden in just two from nearly 50 mounts this year). Most of my rides are in Maidens and Restricteds – I don’t get many in Novice Riders races either (just one in the past two seasons). I think that’s partly why it’s taken me so long to have winners, but I’m always enjoyed the education side, riding three- and four-year-olds that might progress.

Which other jockeys do you admire?

Growing up, Paul Carberry, Ruby Walsh and A P McCoy. Now, under rules, Harry Cobden is so stylish over fences and so quiet, doing a lot without looking like he is, and Sean Bowen is so strong in a finish. In points, nobody’s done it better than Will Biddick, Fly (Martin McIntyre) has taught me a lot and been a good friend, and if you follow Josh Newman, you won’t be too far off the pace!

Martin McIntyre - teacher and friend

What's your favourite course?

I’ve never had success there, but Buckfastleigh is a great course when they get raceable ground. Milborne St Andrew is a good test, as you have to jump and travel well, Charlton Horethorne is a good track, and I’ve had some great days down at Trebudannon, which is a lovely place.

Racing on heavy ground at Buckfastleigh (Tim Holt)

What are your ambitions in pointing and racing?

If you put a gun to my head, I’d say to win the Foxhunters at Aintree but, realistically, just to ride as many winners as I can, get on good horses, and be known as a good jockey. I’d also like to race more abroad, particularly in France and America – my Mum’s American, so I have a US passport.

What would you do if you were in charge of the sport?

I’d bring the start of the season forward to October and finish at the start of May. The way the climate is changing, we only have a few meetings on good ground, then you get heavy ground for two or three months, followed by three to four weeks of genuine ground when it dries. Then it firms up, and people often don’t want to run horses on that ground, even if it’s watered. 25-30 runners doesn’t justify having a meeting, which is why I’d finish earlier and have more autumn fixtures on good ground.

What would you be doing if you weren’t involved with horses?

As a child, I wanted to be a vet, but a lack of interest at school curtailed that ambition! I cooked competitively in Ireland, and might have gone down a culinary route - my signature dish is a pheasant arrabbiata (!) - but have had to balance my love of food with doing 9st7lb under rules!

Is there anything else you’d like to say?

Fionn after winning on Cockspur Balla for Rebecca Vanstone 

I really appreciate everyone who’s supported me to this stage. As well as those I’ve already mentioned, there are other small trainers like Rebecca Vanstone – I rode Cockspur Balla, her first winner – Gordon Chambers and Roy Smith. I won on Dancing Du Moulin for Roy and on Peacocks Secret for Gordon. I was first or second on all my four rides on him.

Fionn scoring on Peacocks Secret at Cherrybrook

Fionn Summers is sponsored by Dig Devon this season.