An Interview with Kielan Woods

Kielan Woods grew up in Athlone, in the middle of Ireland. He was not born into a racing family, however, this has not prevented him rising through the jockey ranks to be one of the most successful of this generation. He rode his first winners – approximately seventy – on the pony racing circuit and had his first winner under Rules on Heroes Square at Thurles in November 2009. A move to the UK has seen Kielan, now 31, win a brace of Grand Annuals at the Cheltenham Festival, the Grade 1 Manifesto Novices’ Chase at Aintree in April 2022 on Millers Bank and last season, the Grade 2 mares’ bumper at Aintree in April. Ben Case, Graeme McPherson, Dan Skelton, DJ Jeffreys, Fergal O’Brien and Alex Hales have all provided Kielan with notable winners but he is most often seen aboard Ben Pauling's horses.

It’s not just racing that Kielan excels in… A few years ago, he met Christy Mews at Pam Sly’s yard and they married in 2021. When he’s not riding out, schooling or at the races, he helps with her very successful pre-training yard, situated near in the heart of the Cotswolds in Stow-on-the-Wold.

Christy and Kielan live nearby in Bourton-on-the-Water, with daughter Darcy, 17 months, and son Otis, 3 months. They also have two whippets and treasured terrier, Champ. The second of Kielan's Grand Annual wins came in 2022 aboard Global Citizen for Ben Pauling and The Megsons. The twelve-year-old gelding has since retired and now resides at Park Farm Racing, where he leads strings of youngstock, while also being Christy’s ROR project.

Did you have a horsey childhood? Not really. The Dunning family introduced me to horses and I spent loads of time at a local riding school.

How did you get into racing? After doing a lot of hunting and showjumping, I did a lot of pony racing and everything materialised from there. I attended the apprentice school, RACE, on the Curragh and did the course for ten months. From a young age, I always wanted to be in racing.

As a boy, did you have a racing hero? Charlie Swan. When I was very young, I was off school with a broken collar bone, and I watched Istabraq win one of his Champion Hurdles. Istabraq is the first good horse I remember.

Which trainers have you worked for? My first job was for Caroline Hutchinson, who was a brilliant mentor, was very strict and put manners on me. My first ride under Rules for her was a winner. Sadly, Caroline gave up training so I then went to Paul Flynn, who used to be a jockey in England. I was with ‘Flynner’ for a year or so and he suggested I went to England, so I ended up at Charlie Longsdon’s and had my first winner for him on Be My Light at Uttoxeter in 2011.

Favourite racehorses: Croco Bay was one of my favourites. Not only was he my first Cheltenham Festival winner, but I got to ride him in a lot of good races, like the Grade 1 Shloer Chase. I also got to ride him in Ireland at big meetings like Galway and Punchestown. He wasn’t type that type of horse but he then went on to win a Grand Annual, which was brilliant.

What have been your best days in racing so far? Global Citizen winning at the Cheltenham Festival is right up there. Croco Bay was brilliant but it sunk in a lot better the second time. I did appreciate it the first time but I appreciated it even more with Global Citizen. Millers Bank winning the Grade 1 at Aintree was another unbelievable day.

Favourite racecourse: Cheltenham is my favourite and I love Stratford.

What race would you most like to win? The Aintree Grand National.

How did you start up the yard? Christy, my wife, used to work for Pam Sly and came to the Cotswolds to work for Charlie Longsdon. She got a Pointer to do in her lunch breaks called Lord Heathfield, who won about four races that season. The next winter, she got couple more and they all won races too. She had four stables in a farmyard with no other facilities and the landlord, Thomas Gaydon, said if Christy wanted it, he’d build her a yard. When that happened, Fergal O’Brien sent her some horses and now, we’ve got some good contacts built up, like Donald McCain. Christy doesn’t train Pointers anymore but the yard is full up with pre-trainers. She does a good job of it.

What is the best thing about racing? Winning!

Within racing, where can improvements be made? Definitely the prize money! Also, racecourses, trainers and everybody should look after stable staff a lot better. In the weighing room, the food is free for us jockeys, whereas it still isn’t free in all the stable staff canteens. I can’t see how it isn’t free – there’s no reason why we should be getting fed for free and the stable staff do more work than us and they’re not getting their food for free. Little things like that make a big difference.

Favourite meal: Pizza.
Favourite drink: Beer.
Favourite holiday destination: Anywhere in Spain – it’s not too far away.
Favourite film: The Wolf of Wall Street.
Other hobbies: I love showjumping. I have a couple of young horses to show jump, which keeps us busy in the summer months when racing is quieter.
Hopes for the future: To keep riding as many winners as possible and to better myself every year if I can.
How do you juggle race riding, a yard and a young family? I have an amazing wife.