Yvonne Connolly joined Friday Night Racing to talk about winning her debut race as a jockey.
The Nass woman rode 'Neverrushacon' the opening race of 'Corinthian Challenge for Irish Injured Jockeys' at The Curragh.
She spoke about her first amateur race and the mental battles ahead of competing in last week's race.
"It is mind over matter, and that has to come from you. And people say 'Relax,' but that has to come from you. I'd been given so much advice, and I'd asked for so much advice.
"I'd walked the track with Gordon Power, and I'd gone through every scenario with him. I was like, 'what if this happens, what if that happens? What do I do if I'm cornered in? What do I do if I'm behind or in front? Everything.
Connolly was the only one who hadn't sat on a race horse before they trained for the series. She praised the relationship she had with the horse prior to the race.
"I jumped off late and he passed everybody. There is a feeling you have with the horse, and I didn't get it with every horse in Jessica's but with this horse we just did have a connection, and I knew it,' the debutante jockey told OTB's Friday Night Racing.
Connolly also spoke of Jessica Harrington's invaluable advice and knowledge of 'Neverrushacon' as being a significant factor in winning the race.
"Jessica said, 'jump off, relax until you get to the last two furlongs.'
She spoke of dreaming about winning the race but never really expected it to happen. she says the it "felt like winning the Grand National."
'Neverrushacon' returned home as an 8/1 winner in the opening race of the 'Corinthian Challenge for Irish Injured Jockeys'.
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