Luke Dempsey is the latest jockey to provide the answers for Alan Marron
Well established in the ranks of National Hunt jockeys, Luke Dempsey seems to have been around for a while but is only 23 years old.
His first Cheltenham Festival win came as a teenager on Killultagh Vic for Willie Mullins in the 2015 Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys Handicap Hurdle, although he is no stranger to big-race success, with recent examples being last year’s Galway Plate victory on Borice for Gordon Elliott and the Grade 3 Fishery Lane Hurdle win at Naas on Surin, also for Gordon, in November.
And at Bar One Racing he is well remembered for his victory on Dinnie’s Vinnie for his father Philip in the 2018 Porterstown House Chase at Fairyhouse, a race that we sponsor.
Now connected to the leading stable of Gordon Elliott, the future looks bright for Luke. I wish him every success and thank him for taking the time to answer my questions.
JOCKEY QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 5—LUKE DEMPSEY
NAME: LUKE DEMPSEY
AGE: 23
WHERE ARE YOU FROM: CARBURY, CO. KILDARE
STABLE YOU’RE ATTACHED TO: PHILIP DEMPSEY, GORDON ELLIOTT
HOW DID YOU GET INTO RACING: MY FATHER, PHILIP, TRAINS HORSES SO I HAVE GROWN UP AROUND THEM MY WHOLE LIFE.
JOCKEY YOU IDOLISED GROWING UP: BARRY GERAGHTY & JOHNNY MURTAGH
FAVOURITE RACECOURSE AND WHY? DOWNPATRICK AND NAVAN AS I HAVE BEEN VERY LUCKY AROUND BOTH TRACKS.
TOUGHEST COURSE TO RIDE: GALWAY BECAUSE IT CAN BE TIGHT AND YOU NEED PLENTY OF LUCK IN RUNNING.
HOW MANY WINNERS HAVE YOU RIDDEN SO FAR: 127
HORSE THAT YOU LOOK FORWARD TO THIS SEASON: THE LONG MILE (A JP McMANUS-OWNED SIX YEAR OLD THAT HAS NOW WON THREE OF HIS LAST FOUR RACES FOR LUKE’S FATHER, PHILIP; LUKE HAS RIDDEN HIM TO VICTORY IN EACH OF HIS LAST TWO RACES – IN FEB AND MARCH OF THIS YEAR – BOTH OF THEM AT GOWRAN PARK, INCLUDING LAST TIME IN THE €50,000 HOLDEN PLANT RENTALS SHAMROCK HANDICAP CHASE)
RACE YOU WOULD MOST LIKE TO WIN: AINTREE GRAND NATIONAL
WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO OWN THAT YOU DONT HAVE ALREADY? MY OWN HOUSE
HOBBIES OUTSIDE OF RACING: NONE REALLY, THE HORSES KEEP ME BUSY ENOUGH
FOOTBALL TEAM YOU SUPPORT: I DON’T REALLY FOLLOW FOOTBALL AS MUCH AS I USED TO. I WAS AN ARSENAL FAN AT SCHOOL, THOUGH.
Dinnie’s Vinnie and Luke Dempsey jumping the last on their way to victory in the 2018 €50,000 BarOneRacing.com Porterstown Handicap Chase at Fairyhouse
The Oakley Brown interview can be found via this link
The Oisin Orr interview can be found via this link