How did you get into ownership?

I have been involved in horses all my life as my dad, Alo Tynan, lived and breathed horses. He had broodmares and stood stallions including Regular Guy and Milan (the real one!) and we were all involved as a family. He had a permit to train his own horses and I progressed from riding ponies and hunting to riding the thoroughbreds from after school and in summer holidays. I remember getting my stable employee pass at 14 to go racing and lead up.

Our runners were always homebred so the thrill was indescribable when they were placed or won. I had wonderful days with Dolan who won eight races on the track including the La Touche Cup by a distance over four miles and the banks at Punchestown.

We also had Satlan, a pint-sized mare who won from three miles in points, ridden then by my 17-year-old sister Jane. She also won two flat races at Listowel and the Curragh, a hurdle race, was placed 12 times over jumps and was also placed over the banks in Punchestown.

Satlan’s toughness and genuine heart has been passed down to the present generation. Her granddaughter Easter Saturday, who I bought from my brother Michael as a foal in Tattersalls in 2001, won her point, and was placed third over the banks before being injured.

Thanks to the late, great vet Ned Gowing, she survived and retired to stud. I now have the fifth generation of this broodmare line (thanks to my dad’s Passion) and Easter Saturday has produced four winners from her first four runners including Coolbane Boy, a promising bumper and hurdle winner for Dan and Michelle MacDonald and Liam Burke.

Breeding is something I always been interested in and I bought Raven Rule at Tattersalls Ireland in February 2016 for €2,600 from Joerg and Diana Vasicek of Kenilworth House Stud as she has a lovely pedigree and I thought she might make a good broodmare in time.

What was your best day at the races?

I’ve had lots of wonderful days with my dad and Easter Saturday was third in the Ladies Cup at 50/1 in 2008 at Punchestown. But last Sunday at Tramore when Raven Rule won, giving me my first winner on the course in my colours, and trained by my partner Liam (Burke) tops the lot. No one can describe that winning feeling… it’s just awesome.

What is the biggest drawback about being a racehorse owner?

It’s injuries to the racehorse which nearly all National Hunt owners experience. I’ve have had the ups and downs of the sport and I think anyone going into ownership should realise that one needs a lot of luck and patience but when that win comes it’s worth the wait. Let your expressions out and enjoy and celebrate the win Any day one has a runner is great.

Which racecourse in Ireland treats owners the best and why?

In general most racecourses have improved the way that owners are treated but there is always room for more improvement, particulary with food.

Owners put their hands in their pockets every month for training fees and it is only right and proper that the day they go racing to see their horse, win or lose is an enjoyable day out. Like anyone, they need to feel valued.

Flat or jumps, which do you prefer?

Jumps, as I was brought up with that code, but I like to watch the flat also.

What qualities do you look for in a trainer?

Has to be honesty, first and foremost. It’s very easy to tell an owner he has a good racehorse in the making but not vice versa. But tell it as it is.

In general most National Hunt owners are in racing for the love of it and spend small fortunes to get that winning feeling, have their picture taken for the sitting room wall, and are not likely to give up easyily if treated honestly and fairly.

How do you think the current crisis will impact on racing in general?

We have been through rough times before and I think we will survive Covid-19 too. It’s very important that we get owners back racing and involved as soon as possible.

What significance do your colours hold?

They are Dad’s colours and, even though I didn’t have runners for years, I kept the registration paid to retain them.

My family were delighted to see them passing the post in front on Sunday. It heartened us greatly as we recently lost our nephew in tragic circumstances in the USA.

The colours go back to the 1950s.

When buying a horse, what do you look for?

I am usually on the opposite side selling, mainly the foals I breed. When I bought Raven Rule she was a nice quality filly with a great pedigree. Her grandam Ebony Jane won the Irish Grand National in 1993 and I bought her as a potential broodmare so I put her in training hoping she would win and make her more valuable as a broodmare.

For me the dam’s line is most important and I am interested in the lesser-known sires, those that may not be in the public eye as much. I love watching the progeny grow and later develop to racehorses. It’s an added bonus when they get to the racecourse and run well.

What horses do you have in training?

Just Raven Rule at present.

What’s next on the agenda?

My dream would be to have a few more days like last Sunday and maybe get placed and get a bit of blacktype along the way.

Have you horses to look forward to?

I have two fillies out of Easter Saturday, a two-year-old by Well Chosen and a yearling by Elusive Pimpernel.

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

The lower-graded horses are fairly well looked after this time of year but during the winter when the better type of horse is running it is more difficult to place them. Maybe they could develop a scheme for the lower-rated horse, rated 110 or less.

The ITBA fillies’ bonus scheme that was introduced some years ago to encourage breeders and owners to put and keep fillies in training has been a terrific success. The bumper Raven Rule won in Tramore was one of these and well worth the investment of €200 to nominate her as a three-year-old.

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

Be patient – some horses mature quicker than others and a lot depends on how they have been taken care of since birth. Not all horses are capable of running as a four-year-old and may need that extra time. I know time is money but for the horse’s well-being and longevity, it’s the right thing to do.

Racing is a wonderful game but people should be prepared for disappointment too. Horses are like athletes, they are not machines that one can turn on and off. They can pull muscles, strain backs, like humans and require time to recuperate.

In this game one needs luck, money, lots of patience and dreams.

Mary Tynan was in conversation with Olivia Hamilton