Josh Williamson on turning professional: 'Gordon was asking me for a couple of months to turn'

Josh Williamson has made the decision to turn professional, and the 19-year-old son of legendary rider Norman Williamson spoke to Niall Tierney from irishracing.com about making the big decision.

He reveals the factors surrounding it, and the success he has had in his career so far, such as winning the George Mernagh Memorial Sales Bumper at Fairyhouse, the William Hill Listed Handicap Hurdle at Listowel, and winning aboard Keep Him Company in the concluding race of the 2025 Leopardstown Christmas Festival.

Making the decision to turn Professional

It’s been on my mind for an awful long time since I started riding, really. I always wanted to be a professional at some point, and I just thought, talking to Dad and a few people like that, I thought the time might be right, you know.

Gordon was asking me for a couple of months to turn, so I just thought the timing was right. I thought I had enough experience riding as an amateur that I’d hopefully be able to make a stab as a professional, and be there on the big days and deliver.

How much confidence does winning a big sales race give you in your career and in your decision?

Oh definitely, it gives you huge confidence to be honest. Especially in the Sales race, it was my first day back after nearly the guts of two months out injured, so that meant an awful lot. And obviously Casheldale Lad - Gordon has been great to me since I started. He put me up in plenty of big handicaps, and it was nice to land a big pot like that for him and Bective Stud.

How important is Gordon in your career so far?

Oh well, he’s been massive, to be honest. He’s the one that got me going, and I have to mention Gigginstown as well - they had the faith in me very early on to ride a couple of nice bumper horses. And yeah, it helps get your name out there anyway.

Following in the footsteps of your father

It’s obviously not going to be easy to do, and obviously I still get all the advice from him whenever I need, but yeah, sure, you have to make your own name. The Williamson second name only gets you so far in life. Only for your first few rides, I suppose, people would be watching, but yeah, you’d like to make your own name as well.

If I’m not at home, I ring him before every day’s racing and I speak to him every day after as well. But then, yeah, there’s plenty of criticism and plenty of compliments as well. But listen, criticism is what makes you better, so I’m very happy to take it.

Winning at Christmas on Keep Him Company - how good is he, and is there anything in the yard that catches your eye each morning?

I’d like to think he’s probably the best bumper horse I’ve ridden. I think it’s fair to say he doesn’t show an awful lot at home. He’s a bit like Ballyfad in that way, and I didn’t really know what to expect before Fairyhouse.

I thought I had a load of good chances at the start of the week and things just weren’t really working. I was getting a bit frustrated, but yeah, it meant an awful lot to get his head in front there at Leopardstown at the Christmas Festival.

I’d like to say either El Cairos or Romeo Coolio, to be honest. Those two - they look pretty special beasts, to be honest.

What made you decide now is the time?

Like I said, it was on my mind for a long time. I had a great time as an amateur and I don’t regret a second of it, but starting out, it was always the long-term goal to be a professional, and I just thought the timing was right to go.

And also this season, as amateurs we only get a certain amount of rides against professionals a year. And I only had four or five of those left for the season, so I was thinking they wouldn't get me to Punchestown, and I thought I’d better go when the time was right.

You’re 19 years old now - is there anything you’d like to achieve in the next couple of years?

I suppose everyone’s goal is to ride a graded winner or something like that. You know, that would be massive, or to land a big handicap - a big handicap chase in Leopardstown or Fairyhouse or whatever it may be. But listen, like you say, those are hypothetical. You’d only be hoping.