'I’m not that bothered about pedigree as long as the horse is a good physical'

Name Aidan 'Mouse' O'Ryan

Who are some of the best horses you've bought?
Through my job with Richard Fahey I am involved, along with Robin O'Ryan, in buying a lot of his horses. Ribchester, the multiple Group 1 winner originally owned by the Armstrongs, would have been a major one.

Over jumps, Grade 1 winners Labaik and Mick Jazz were relatively cheap purchases, while Beckford and River Boyne are among other high-class Flat performers I've purchased for Gordon Elliott.

Give us a lesser known purchase you’re particularly proud of...
Markhan is a horse I was particularly proud of as I bought him for a group of friends for small money for them to have a bit of craic with. He won in Ireland, Scotland and Nashville, so suffice to say plenty of craic was had by all!

The versatile Markhan is a horse who has provided connections with plenty of funCredit: Patrick McCann

What do you like to see in a pedigree at foal and store sales?
I’m not that bothered about the pedigrees as long as the horse is a good physical.

What are the most unusual circumstances you’ve bought a horse in?
A few years ago in South Africa at the Cape Yearling Sales, in basically a warehouse in the middle of Cape Town, I ended up with a piece of a yearling with Peter Doyle, among others, called The Green Tractor. He ended up running in Mauritius, so that was slightly unusual!

If you had to let another agent buy you a horse who would you choose?
It would have to be my dad Bobby or my cousin Robin, as they have taught me about horses since I was able to walk and are both very good judges.

Mouse's father Bobby O'Ryan (left) is a font of bloodstock knowledgeCredit: Sarah Farnsworth

What conformational faults can you not forgive?
I don’t like a horse over at the knee and, with my jumping hat on, I don’t like a horse with a long back as it leads to problems with jumping etc.

One that got away?
I’d have to mention two really. I was underbidder to Mark Johnston on Tiger Roll's half-brother Austrian School as a yearling at around 20,000gns, although I’d imagine I’d have cut him and kept him for a store sale and he’d never have been rated 100+ on the Flat!

More recently Riders Onthe Storm, who myself and Gordon [Elliott] went to Goffs UK to buy but a couple of different circumstances led to us not getting him. Still, fair play to Hamish Macauley, Nigel Twiston-Davies and all the team for the job they are doing with him.

Which sire do you think could break through at Cheltenham?
I think two sires with a couple of runners at the Festival to look out for are Sea The Moon and Maxios. Both have a few entries in the juvenile races and could become very good National Hunt sires in the next couple of years.

What do you think is the reason for the surge in French success at the Festival?
There are a couple of reasons, in my opinion. A lot of the Irish store horse vendors are buying more and more French-breds from the foal sales in France and off the land as foals, so there are far more of them for sale in British and Irish sales as a result.

Also, Irish and British owners like to buy these French-breds after a run or two as three-year-olds, for example, as they have the advantage of being broken/galloping/jumping as two-year-olds, whereas the majority of British/Irish-breds are a year or more behind.

Mouse O'Ryan with his Cheltenham wildcard selection Ard AbhainnCredit: Alain Barr

With the National Hunt market so strong, give us a tip for finding value...
I like to think there is some value to be found in buying a few of the placed horses from four- and five-year-old maiden points. They sometimes haven’t got the wow factor of the winners when it comes to the sales ring, which is reflected in their prices.

Give us a horse who's under the radar for Cheltenham...
I like Ard Abhainn in the mares' novice hurdle. She’s been steadily improving all season and I think she could run a big race at a nice price.

What is your nap for the Festival?
I strongly fancy Gordon's recent Gowran winner Queens Brook each-way in the Weatherbys Champion Bumper.

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Tom PeacockBloodstock features writer

Published on 4 March 2020inNews

Last updated 19:40, 4 March 2020

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'I’m not that bothered about pedigree as long as the horse is a good physical'

Aidan 'Mouse' O'Ryan comes under the Q&A microscope