Two things have helped Sean O'Keeffe in his career so far; belief and determination.

The up and coming jockey made a name for himself at Cheltenham when he won on Galopin Des Champs in the Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle.

From Taghmon, County Wexford, Sean began his career in the amateur ranks and as an 18-year-old, rode his first winner, Cordovan Brown at Punchestown in October, 2017. It was only his second ride. He rode three winners as an amateur and his career really took off when he turned professional in August of the following year.

O'Keefe wasted little time in quickly establishing himself as a leading conditional jockey, winning some high profile races such as the Matheson Handicap Chase at the Dublin Racing Festival on the Gordon Elliott-trained Eclair De Beaufeu in February 2020 and ended that season with a fine tally of 27 winners as he took third place in the conditional jockeys' championship.

He notched up his 60th winner and rode out his claim when taking the Cork Grand National on the John Ryan-trained Dromore Lad at the Mallow venue on Sunday, November 1, 2020.

Speaking on Friday Night Racing, Sean was, as most young sportspeople are, reserved. But underneath it, there's a confidence.

"You always have to have the belief in yourself that you can do it.", O'Keefe said.

"I always believed that if I had the opportunities, I would be able to make use of them."

"You always have to have the belief in yourself that you can do it, you can achieve."

For a lot of young jockeys, one opportunity doesn't automatically lead to another, something O'Keeffe says he was acutely aware of.

"Winning gives you confidence and I suppose people can see that and can see you'll be ok and will be willing to give you a go.

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