85-year-old trainer celebrates first Cheltenham winner with jockey 67 years his junior
Patience is a virtue and John E Kiely knows this better than most.
The Dungarvan man took over the reins from his father in 1974 and has held the trainer's position at his yard ever since.
49 years later, Kiely can finally call himself a Cheltenham Festival winner.
How fitting that the horse to break his duck was aptly named "A dream to share," and while it may have taken a little longer to find a winner than he would have wanted, it's clear from that the winning feeling was well worth waiting for.
"I was always happy with the horse all the way through, he’s been a nice horse since day one but I was concerned about the ground today to be honest," said Kiely after the big win.
“I knew the horse was tip-top but I was worried about the ground so I’m delighted with the way it worked out.
"I’ve spent my life in racing, you never think as a youngster you’d get to be in this hallowed spot.
“This horse is named well isn’t he, they named him on Christmas day as a family, A Dream To Share, it’s lovely.”
Unfancied at 7/2, and coming up against a whopping ten Willie Mullins horses in a race the Gigginstown supremo has won on twelve occasions, the odds seemed stacked against the Waterford native.
24 hours removed from Honeysuckle's magical farewell for the de Bromhead family, it's clear that there's still magic in the air at Prestbury Park these days.
At the other end of the scale, JP McManus was being announced as a winning owner for the 70th time.
While Kiely has been on an Odyssey to get to this point and McManus has seen it all before, Jack Gleeson must be wondering what all the fuss is about.
Weeks out from sitting his Leaving Cert, the 18-year-old already has a winner at the greatest show on turf.
In his first examination on the hallowed grounds, the teenager passed with flying colours. Cool calm and collected throughout, Gleeson showed maturity far beyond his years to fend off the likes of Paul Townend and Rachael Blackmore.
“I can’t believe how smoothly it went, to be honest. Did that just happen? I can’t believe it," said the incredulous Gleeson.
“Just to be here at the Festival, it’s unreal. To have a winner for John Kiely at the Cheltenham Festival – that man is so good to me and I can’t thank him enough. To Mr. McManus as well, for letting me keep the ride, I’m very grateful."
Kiely first came to Cheltenham in 1976, a full 29 years before Gleeson was even born.
He turns 86 in May and only gave up riding himself before covid.
67 years his junior, Gleeson has given Kiely what he desired for almost five decades.
As the old saying goes, good things come to those that wait.
