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Jack Kearney exploded onto the scene in 2022 when steering 40-1 shot Maccliff to victory in a Dundalk handicap at the tender age of just 16, writes David Jennings.

Now, with 70 winners to his name on the Flat and two over hurdles, the son of former Meath footballer Ian has firmly established himself as one of the most promising up-and-coming riders in the country.

A former pupil of St Patrick's CS in Navan at a time when racing fanatic Colm O'Rourke was principal, Kearney played his underage football with Castletown before racing took over.

Kearney was on duty over at Ascot on Saturday where he finished fifth in a hot sprint handicap on the Jack Davison-trained Thunderbear and his hectic schedule includes two mornings each week riding out for Ger Lyons, another two with Stephen Thorne and one with both Gavin Cromwell and Gerry Keane.

When asked for the highlight of his whirlwind career to date, Kearney replied without hesitation

"Definitely Last Ammo winning at the Galway Races a few years ago. That was some buzz. The atmosphere on the night was unbelievable and to get a winner at those big festivals is just magic," said Kearney.

Kearney has come a long way in a very short space of time, but he has never forgotten the man who helped get him to where he is now.

"I started heading into Pat Martin's yard when I was about 10 or so," Kearney said.

"That's my first real racing memory. I used to go into Pat's and start riding out so I spent a good few years with him and he was always brilliant to me."

Kearney helped repay Martin in 2023 when the pair teamed up to land a 7f handicap at Dundalk with Indiana Grey.

This year Kearney has already amassed 20 winners and has struck up a fantastic relationship with the Stephen Throrne-trained Hightimeyouwon. The nine-year-old gelding won three Dundalk events between January and March of this year and followed up in a Cork handicap in the middle of May.

Another big money-earner for Kearney has been Pink Oxalis, who won three handicaps in the space of four months under the young Castletown rider.

Local trainer Lyons is obviously a fan of Kearney and his first winner for Glenburnie Stables was at Naas in 2022 when Zola Sakura won a 1m2f handicap by a massive eight and a half lengths.

In July of this year, they combined to win a Naas event with the smart Storm Piece who now has a rating of 95.

As for his ultimate goal in racing, Kearney said: "I'd obviously love to be champion jockey. That would be the dream." Watch out, Colin Keane.

Check out the full list of fixtures for racing at Navan and Fairyhouse by clicking on their links www.navanracecourse.ie and www.fairyhouse.ie