Yorkshire jump jockey Oakley Brown taking Ireland by storm ahead of Cheltenham

He is stood in the weighing room at Fairyhouse and briefly catches sight of his reflection in the mirror as he fastens the Gigginstown House Stud colours.

“It sent a shiver down the spine,” the 18-year-old confessed to The Yorkshire Post. “It’s something you dream about. I was watching Tiger Roll win two Nationals in the same colours and Don Cossack a Gold Cup. It’s a dream. Unbelievable.”

It did not end there. Assemble then won his Bumper at Fairyhouse, home of the Irish Grand National, before winning a maiden hurdle under Brown at Limerick on Boxing Day (St Stephen’s Day in Ireland).

The highly-regarded six-year-old, trained by the ambitious former Flat rider Joseph O’Brien, provides Brown with a dream day at next week’s Cheltenham Festival if he gets to ride the horse in the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Hurdle.

One of several rides that Brown could enjoy at the Festival, his rise to prominence is significant because he is a young English-born rider who is making his mark in Ireland.

Normally, young Irish jockeys move to Britain to further their careers but Brown caught the eye of O’Brien whose father, Aidan, is the all-conquering Flat trainer.

From Malton, the teenager had been mentored by trainer Richard Fahey and former champion jockey Paul Hanagan, who says the best bet at Cheltenham is Brown riding a winner. “From day one, you could see he was a natural talent,” he adds.

Yet, while the teenager recorded his very first winner on the Flat when Fahey’s Third Time Lucky prevailed at York in the summer of 2018, his physical stature and burgeoning weight meant a career over jumps was inevitable.

Opportunities were limited until Mark Dwyer, a dual Cheltenham Gold Cup-winning jockey, put Brown in touch with O’Brien, who is clearly blessed by the genius that has served his family so well – his big race successes include a Melbourne Cup, Irish Gold Cup, Breeders’ Cup and Cheltenham winner.

“Mark Dwyer spoke to Joseph last summer. I went over for four weeks last summer and didn’t come back,” says Brown, who has 11 wins to his name from 58 rides as well as experience at all the major festivals in ferociously competitive 30-runner races which are not for the faint-hearted.

“It has just got better and better. Riding winners is what it is all about and riding for Joseph has given me the confidence – and opportunities – that I need.”

Though Brown is one of many riders at O’Brien’s Piltown stables where there are 300 horses in training, he says that he has also been made to feel like one of the family as he becomes more established at this meticulously organised operation.

He has also been embraced by the Irish jockeys.

“From Davy Russell, who has won the two Nationals on Tiger Roll, to lads waiting to ride their first winner, they’re all the same,” reports Brown.

“I’m the only English lad in the weighing room but they treat me like one of their own, but we had good banter over the Six Nations rugby between Ireland and England.”

Brown, however, has no intention of replacing his Yorkshire accent with an Irish lilt.

“I hope not. I would rather keep the Yorkshire one.”

But he does accept that he will be riding for the Emerald Isle next week in jump racing’s annual Anglo-Irish clash. His seven-pound conditional rider’s allowance, backed by an infectious and youthful enthusiasm, will be invaluable in the most competitive handicaps.

The Yorkshireman’s will to win is self-evident. He has won pony races at Cheltenham – and went to the Festival as a spectator in 2017 when his appetite for success only grew.

Now he just wants to compete on jump racing’s biggest stage. “Any ride will do,” he adds. “If it’s a favourite or 100-1 outsider, it will be a dream come true.” And, in all likelihood, the first of many.