Whilst growing up in Athlone, in the middle of Ireland, Kielan Woods was not born into a racing family. Yet, 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, 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, most recently, he has ridden prominently for Ben Pauling.
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 in nearby Bourton-on-the-Water, with daughter Darcy, 21 months, and son Otis, 7 months, and their two whippets. The second of his Grand Annual wins came in 2022 on Global Citizen for Ben Pauling and owners The Megsons; the twelve-year-old gelding has retired to their yard lead the strings of youngstock and to be Christy’s ROR project.
Kielan's other love of showjumping, winning at the Cheltenham Festival on Global
Citizen and on him at home in retirement with daughter Darcy
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, including the Grade 1 Shloer Chase. I also got to ride him in Ireland at big meetings like Galway and Punchestown. He wasn’t 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, that 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 snack: Anything chocolate.
Favourite holiday destination: Anywhere in Spain – it’s not too far away.
Favourite music: Anything except rap and very heavy metal.
Favourite film: The Wolf of Wall Street.
Best racing celebration you’ve attended: Harry Skelton’s Champion Jockey party was brilliant.
Other hobbies: I love showjumping. I have a couple of young horses to showjump, which keeps us busy in the summer months when racing is quieter. In the winter, when I’m not racing, I go hunting.
Ideal day off: These days it means going to the soft play in Moreton-in-the-Marsh with the kids. Life’s a lot different nowadays.
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.
*Many thanks to Old Gold Racing for the help in securing this interview. They published it first in their fabulous newsletter Racing Weekly. To sign up, go to https://mailchi.mp/2f6ba62d6182/racing-weekly-lead-capture
Another great insight into a jump jockeys everyday life 👍