How did you get into racehorse ownership?

I was a very poor point-to-point rider and Diana was a farmer’s daughter, a country girl, so we were involved with horses early on. Diana’s grandmother came across to the UK from Ireland, Elsie Pender from Cork, to be a Land Girl before the Second World War, married Diana’s grandfather and ran the family farm in Staffordshire.

Our first racehorse was Dunster Castle who was named after a castle near Philip Hobbs’ yard and had been bred by his father.

What was your best day at the races and why?

We have been lucky to have had many Grade 1 wins but the best day was when Captain Chris won the Arkle at Cheltenham in 2011. That was a very special one – the Arkle, one of the championship races at the festival.

What is the biggest drawback about being a racehorse owner?

I think when a horse has to be retired. It brings many mixed feelings. You are pleased that they retire safe and sound but at the same time you want them to go on to achieve further glories. Age catches up with everyone, even owners.

In your experience, which racecourse treats owners the best and why?

We haven’t had much experience of racing in Ireland but we have always been treated well when racing whether it’s the small tracks in England or the big festivals. We’ve had wonderful times at the big festivals - Cheltenham, Aintree and Punchestown. That’s why we go racing.

Flat or jump racing, which do you prefer and why?

Always the jumps for us.

What qualities do you look for in a trainer?

Philip Hobbs is the epitome of what a good trainer is. He is well balanced and even tempered with the highs and lows of racing.

And now we have horses in Ireland with Gordon Elliott who displays the same kind of equilibrium.

We go to Philip’s yard in Minehead to see our horses and then in the summer they go out to grass at Aiden and Anabel Murphy’s farm. Aiden is our bloodstock agent and lives near Stratford-upon-Avon. We can visit them whenever we like and to go over there at 6am or on a summer’s evening is heaven.

What improvements would you like to see racecourses in Ireland do for owners?

I’m not that well experienced with the scene. Diana has two horses with Gordon Elliott. Diamond King who is being campaigned excellently and won the Coral Cup at Cheltenham in March. He is entered for the three-mile Grade 1 novice hurdle at Punchestown on Thursday (fourth).

Jetstream Jack has won at points and over hurdles and that is a bonus as he is a chaser in the making.

What significance do your colours hold?

Those are my point-to-point colours which are now used by Diana as her racing colours.

When buying a horse, what do you look for?

We essentially leave that to Aiden Murphy, our bloodstock agent, but the usual things would be to look for conformation, movement, ballet dancer-like balance, athleticism and breeding. I like a very strong back end and neck. I do go to the sales and thoroughly enjoy them but it is Aiden Murphy’s eye and experience that has the last say.

What horses do you currently have in training?

Diamond King, Jetstream Jack, Captain Chris, Wishful Thinking (retired), Menorah, Sausalito Sunrise who was an excellent third at Sandown last Saturday in the Gold Cup behind The Young Master, Garde La Victoire, Rock The Kasbah, Duke Des Champs and a full-brother to Wishful Thinking, Wishful Dreaming.

What’s next on the agenda for your horses?

We’re racing at Punchestown this week with Diamond King.The horses will then go out for summer’s rest. Menorah will keep going for those valuable chases over the summer at Perth and elsewhere and we hope to bring him over to Ireland.

He always goes a lot better once the sun is on his back and the ground is good. He won the Oaksey Chase last Saturday at Sandown for the third time and gave Dickie Johnson his long awaited first jockeys’ championship

Have you any horses to look forward to? (i.e. young/unbroken horses)

Yes we have bought two and three-year-olds being broken and ready to race.

We have so much racing to look forward to and have a combined interest going back over 43 years and our married life.

What would help to make Irish racing more competitive for the smaller owner/trainer?

We have no complaints about owners like Rich Ricci and Gigginstown. They buy and race wonderful horses. Anything that raises the standard in National Hunt racing in our view will always be welcome.

What advice would you give to someone thinking of becoming a racehorse owner?

Enjoy the highs but celebrate the lows as they are much more regular. Grahame Whateley was in conversation with Olivia Hamilton.

The Association of Irish Racehorse Owners (AIRO) have secured agreement with the Association of Irish Racecourses for free admission to 107 race meetings in 2016 for owners who currently have a horse in training. Details of the meetings are on www.irishracehorseowners.com