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Born the son of a trainer, Patrick Michael Verling rode winners in his native Ireland before coming to ride in Britain in 1987 as stable amateur for Upper Lambourn trainer David Murray-Smith. He rode three winners in the 1987/88 season, two of which were gained on handicap hurdler The Shiner.
Born the son of a trainer, Patrick Michael Verling rode winners in his native Ireland before coming to ride in Britain in 1987 as stable amateur for Upper Lambourn trainer David Murray-Smith. He rode three winners in the 1987/88 season, two of which were gained on handicap hurdler The Shiner.
The next season, 1988/89, was far more successful, easily reaching double figures. His wins included four consecutive victories on Murray-Smith’s two-mile chaser Snowy Bondlair plus a fifth success on him at Ludlow on May 1, the first leg of a double that day. In addition to his wins on horses trained by Murray-Smith, he also won handicap chases for other trainers, including the Tom Beckett Challenge Trophy at Uttoxeter on Jim Old’s Shannagary and the Ted Long Challenge Cup at Folkestone on Roland O’Sullivan’s Boardmans Style.
The next season, 1988/89, was far more successful, easily reaching double figures. His wins included four consecutive victories on Murray-Smith’s two-mile chaser Snowy Bondlair plus a fifth success on him at Ludlow on May 1, the first leg of a double that day. In addition to his wins on horses trained by Murray-Smith, he also won handicap chases for other trainers, including the Tom Beckett Challenge Trophy at Uttoxeter on Jim Old’s Shannagary and the Ted Long Challenge Cup at Folkestone on Roland O’Sullivan’s Boardmans Style.
Pat turned professional at the start of the 1989/90 season but had just five winners that term, including two on Snowy Bondlair. He made the perfect start to the 1990/91 campaign, becoming leading jockey for half an hour when winning the first race of the season on John O’Shea’s Singing Flame at Bangor-on-Dee. He went on to record a score of eight for the season, finishing with victory on By Line, trained by Fulke Walwyn’s widow Cath, in the Ted Triggs Memorial Challenge Cup Handicap Hurdle at Fontwell on Whit Monday, May 27, 1991.
Pat turned professional at the start of the 1989/90 season but had just five winners that term, including two on Snowy Bondlair. He made the perfect start to the 1990/91 campaign, becoming leading jockey for half an hour when winning the first race of the season on John O’Shea’s Singing Flame at Bangor-on-Dee. He went on to record a score of eight for the season, finishing with victory on By Line, trained by Fulke Walwyn’s widow Cath, in the Ted Triggs Memorial Challenge Cup Handicap Hurdle at Fontwell on Whit Monday, May 27, 1991.
He continued to ride as a 3lb claiming conditional based with David Murray-Smith and, in 1991/92, he rode half a dozen winners, one of the last coming on Murray-Smith’s Brave Buccaneer in a Lingfield all-weather bumper on January 6, 1992. He won twice on Man O Mine at Huntingdon (29th August & 16th September) in the 1994-95 season
He continued to ride as a 3lb claiming conditional based with David Murray-Smith and, in 1991/92, he rode half a dozen winners, one of the last coming on Murray-Smith’s Brave Buccaneer in a Lingfield all-weather bumper on January 6, 1992. He won twice on Man O Mine at Huntingdon (29th August & 16th September) in the 1994-95 season
He subsequently relocated to Ireland and, in 2001, took over his father’s training operation at Castlelyons, near Fermoy, while continuing to hold a jockey’s licence. He achieved by far his greatest success in 2003 when winning Ireland’s richest and most competitive handicap hurdle, the Guinness Galway Hurdle, with 16-1 shot Sabadilla. In so doing, 36-year-old Pat became the first man in living memory to both ride and train the Galway Hurdle winner. He had won three other races on Sabadilla prior to that Galway triumph, including a valuable handicap at that year’s Punchestown festival.
He subsequently relocated to Ireland and, in 2001, took over his father’s training operation at Castlelyons, near Fermoy, while continuing to hold a jockey’s licence. He achieved by far his greatest success in 2003 when winning Ireland’s richest and most competitive handicap hurdle, the Guinness Galway Hurdle, with 16-1 shot Sabadilla. In so doing, 36-year-old Pat became the first man in living memory to both ride and train the Galway Hurdle winner. He had won three other races on Sabadilla prior to that Galway triumph, including a valuable handicap at that year’s Punchestown festival.
Pat’s training career failed to flourish in later years. His last winner was 25-1 outsider Birds Of A Feather in a Limerick bumper on May 20, 2008. He had his last runner, Urban Venture, in a handicap at Dundalk on December 11, 2013.
Pat’s training career failed to flourish in later years. His last winner was 25-1 outsider Birds Of A Feather in a Limerick bumper on May 20, 2008. He had his last runner, Urban Venture, in a handicap at Dundalk on December 11, 2013.
His son, also named Patrick, was successful as a youngster in pony racing
His son, also named Patrick, was successful as a youngster in pony racing
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