Meet Daniel McAlinden, who completed fourth within the 2023 Hickstead Derby

“I’m nonetheless humming!” says 24-year-old Irish showjumper Daniel McAlinden the day after completing equivalent fourth with simply 4 faults in his first ever Hickstead Derby.

“If any person mentioned final week I used to be going to have every week like that I wouldn’t have believed it.”

Galway-based Daniel might not be a family title simply but, however he introduced into the highlight after his masterful experience at the 12-year-old gelding Keatingstown Z Wellie Two within the Al Shira’aa Derby at Hickstead on Sunday (25 June). The pair pinged down the Derby financial institution and soared over the open water in attention-grabbing taste, simply selecting up 4 faults on the first component of the mythical Satan’s Dyke.

“The pony simply loves the display,” says Daniel, who had handiest been driving Sharon Fitzpatrick’s home-bred by way of Z Wellie 72 out of the mare Marchionesse for 2 months ahead of tackling the arena well-known Hickstead Derby and so they warmed up with a tilt on the puissance at Bolesworth Global, the place they completed 3rd.

“I haven’t had him that lengthy and at Bolesworth it felt like we had been clicking in combination, so all of it got here in combination on the proper time and I’m overjoyed,” finds Daniel, who additionally completed 3rd with Keatingstown Z Wellie Two within the Derby trial.

“Leaping the Hickstead Derby is 100% the dream – simply to be within the corporate of the Breens and Jordan Coyle, and everybody like that, they’re the boys I’ve all the time seemed as much as. It’s this type of well-known ring and the gang used to be so complete, so the ambience used to be nice. Certain there have been a number of nerves however that horse is the only I am getting the least anxious on as a result of he’s very proficient. It’s extra a case of me preserving as cool as imaginable.”

Hickstead Derby: ‘I will be able to’t thank my horse sufficient’

Daniel gained a number of nice recommendation previously from his excellent good friend Mikey Pender, who gained the Hickstead Derby in 2019.

“He gave me just a little of a pep communicate, so I used to be following just a little of his directions,” explains Daniel. “While you’re so within the second, it’s arduous to appear again and movie the spherical obviously, however the whole lot got here off to plot. I used to be just a little apprehensive about him taking a look at a few jumps, however after the Liverpool at fence 3 I felt extra assured and I comfy just a little.

“I’ve been having nightmares for weeks in regards to the Derby financial institution as a result of I’ve by no means executed it ahead of. However he got here down in reality neatly and he kicked off the financial institution and gave a in reality excellent soar over the following one. He were given just a little buzzy with me a few strides after that, however I feel I were given him again and comfy sufficient, however the Dyke is this type of arduous soar to do anyway and the primary section may be very tall coming in. Even if I had it down, I saved calm and I used to be so glad to complete at the 4 faults.

“I in fact idea I’d had any other fence down after the open ditch, however the crowd had been getting in reality excited coming to the final, so I believed for sure I should were on 4! So crossing the road used to be an improbable second. That horse has been knocking at the door now for some time and I will be able to’t thank him sufficient. He’s improbable.”

Daniel McAlinden: why the Hickstead Derby used to be no longer the unique plan

Whilst Daniel McAlinden and Keatingstown Z Wellie Two seemed as although they’d been leaping Derby tracks all their lives, the plan to leap the Hickstead Derby used to be in fact handiest formulated a month in the past. Susan Fitzpatrick used to be the gelding’s common rider however a number of different jockeys have taken the reins and Irish showjumper Ger O’Neill took him within the Hickstead Derby in 2019 even supposing they didn’t get spherical.

“The Fitzpatricks gave me the experience on him – they’re such great other folks and you want to really feel they had been so glad for me and the pony,” says Daniel. “However, after I took him on, this used to be by no means the plan. I had dinner with Sharon and Susan at Balmoral in Might and I urged it to them – chancing my arm just a little, as a result of I wasn’t certain they sought after to do it, however there have been very prepared.

“It’s one thing I’ve all the time sought after to do as a result of I’ve a searching background at domestic – it’s this type of prestigious elegance.”

Daniel says he’d like to be again to contest the Hickstead Derby once more subsequent 12 months, if Keatingstown Z Wellie Two hasn’t been offered ahead of then, and his different function is to check out to do the puissance in Dublin this August.

“I’m simply taking each and every display because it comes,” says Daniel who has constructed up his stables and a thriving trade at his domestic in Galway, taking liveries and working horses.

“We’ll get domestic now and make a greater plan for him, however this present day he’ll move out within the box for every week to experience himself. It’s him taking you for a stroll to the grass although! He likes to move his personal manner, however I let him break out with a few issues if it makes him glad!”

With a bit of luck we’ll see a lot more of this remarkable younger rider and the Fitzpatricks’ marvellous horse.

“The plan is to check out to get so far as I will be able to within the recreation, however getting horses is the toughest factor, so with a bit of luck this may lend a hand my state of affairs!” says Daniel.

If Daniel McAlinden wasn’t in your radar ahead of, he undoubtedly must be now. With a bit of luck this outstanding fulfillment within the Hickstead Derby if an indication of a lot more to return.

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