THE sporting cliche of David vs. Goliath gets thrown around a lot.
When really it should be saved for occasions like the one at Leopardstown this afternoon.
One-time farmer, now mechanic and tractor wheeler-dealer Paddy Corkery is taking on the great and good of Irish racing.
Corkery has officially only ever trained one horse. But thankfully he’s already proven to be a horse of a lifetime.
Master McShee is simply Corkery’s pride and joy. And today he’s set to do battle with the best Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott have to offer.
The Grade 1 Pharma Novice Hurdle has been won by the likes of Samcro, Vautour and Klassical Dream in recent years.
Could Master McShee add his name to that illustrious list?
On paper you’d have to be mad to think so. But there’s more than meets the eye to this underdog.
A mechanic by day, Corkery had plenty smiling over Christmas when he revealed he’d been fixing Davy Russell’s tractor the day Master McShee shot into the big time with a dominant win at Leopardstown.
Not one for the limelight, Corkery was hard to track down in County Waterford and likely kept a card or two up his sleeve. But he’s some character.
“I took my licence out at the same time as Joseph O’Brien, we were on the same course. He’s had a few more winners than me since then!”, laughs Corkery.
“But I’ve never been bothered about winners. When you’re doing it for yourself, you’re not really worried.
“There’s no one putting pressure on you, unless you’re putting pressure on yourself. It’s more the enjoyment.
“And then for a horse like this to come along, it’s every trainer’s dream.”
Since finishing second to Appreciate It – the Willie Mullins-trained favourite for today’s race – on his hurdling debut, Master McShee has won two on the spin.
A Cork maiden was followed by a brilliant win at Leopardstown.
The seven-year-old has had his problems, but Corkery’s patience has been rewarded.
He joked: “The horse is a lot better than I am. I’m a bit too excited to be honest with you!
“You just never know until the morning of the race with this horse. Last time the plan was to go to Punchestown for the Moscow Flyer Hurdle and he got a stone bruise.
“Horses are so fickle and until you get there you don’t want to dream too much.
Corkery has tasted success on the track previously and knows the game like the back of his hand.
He owned the talented mare Mrs Mac Veale and had a big say in her career and clearly has a good eye for a horse.
So why has he never taken it more seriously?
Corkery said: “To me one or two horses is fun, it’s my golf, it’s my enjoyment. Three, four or five is work. I’m not in it for that.
“I used to play golf and I just like the horses now, it’s more of a passion and I guess that’s the reason I’m not trying to sell him either. I’m not in for that.
“Any sport I’m involved in I always wanted to be a participant rather than a spectator.
“What I feel about a nice horse and giving it to someone else to train is like buying a set of golf clubs and giving them to someone else to play with.
“It’s the enjoyment of being hands on, taking off the rug in the morning, do a bit of work, seeing how he develops, naming the horse and all these parts are the best bits of horse racing.
“There’s nothing like watching as he has his first run, his second run and then the excitement of getting rid of them if they’re no good!”
Until last year, Corkery was running the family dairy farm of 80 cows, as well as the workshop and any horses the family had on the go.
But son John is now in charge of the cows, while Corkery senior continues to plot Master McShee’s route to the top.
Named after his good pals John Sheehan and Tom McCarthy, whatever happens today, the trio have already been on one hell of a ride.
Corkery said: “Tom and John bought him as a foal, they were in a partnership.
“Tom called me one day and said the horse had had a few issues but if you want, come and have a look at him.
“I asked John what he thought as there’s not much point me looking at him if John liked him as he has had very good horses through his hands like War Of Attrition and Monty’s Pass.
“He’s got a very good eye for a horse and anything he recommends they can be decent horses.”
So can David topple Goliath? Can one-man band Corkery get one over mighty Mullins?
Corkery said: “It’s crazy to even think we’re doing what we’re doing and racing against the people we are.
“Willie is one of the best trainers this country will ever produce.
“And Appreciate It is a very good horse and we know what we’re up against, he beat us fair and square the last time.
“Our boy is an exciting horse too though and we’ll be hoping to pick up some sort of prize money you know.”
You just know that was said with a wink and a smile.
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