DESPITE only having four horses in training, our small Co Armagh yard has enjoyed a real purple patch this season, with each of our runners tasting success.

The undoubted highlight was the win of stable stalwart, See Double You, at Hexham last month.

Now a 15-year-old, he was the horse that set me on my way as a trainer, while also helping me through one of the most challenging times of my life.

Although my mother’s side of the family were involved with horses, I showed no great interest until my early teens. I had asked my godparents for riding lessons for my 10th birthday but once those were finished I didn’t continue on.

It wasn’t until secondary school, when riding lessons were offered as an extra curricular activity, that I became more serious.

My dad, Cathal, then bought me an ex-racehorse out of John Woods yard and I went on from there.

I started riding out at John’s and when I was 16, I took out an amateur licence to ride in point-to-points. I rode my first winner, Snobs Casino, for John Woods in my first season and from then on I was hooked.

I always had the intention to become a geography teacher, so after my A-levels, I went on to study at Queen’s University.

Despite graduating with a 2.1 honours degree, by that stage I had my mind made up to devote my full attention to racing.

I worked for Noel Kelly, Stephen McConville and John Woods, riding 24 winners in point-to-points and a further eight under rules. I bought See Double You the day after my father was buried, as I wanted to get away and clear my head.

The horse has been very special to me and it is fantastic to see that he is still going strong well into his teenage years. Last year, I semi-retired the horse after he ran below par at Tramore but, after a few months I knew I had to bring him back.

The vet at Hexham looked at him prior to his latest start and remarked how fit and well he was for his age. I will let the horse tell me when he has had enough of racing, at which stage, he will enjoy a happy retirement here with us.

GREAT TEAM

I have a great little team around me, my wife Sheena and two young lads Kian and Tiernan, heavily involved with the horses.

My head girl, Heather Tate, does an unbelievable job, while Richard Gibson does sterling work in the yard.

Kian started pony racing this season and has won five of his six starts on a little pony named Made Of Candy. He idolizes A.P. McCoy, so all his dreams came through when he got to meet the legend recently.

I am a huge fan of J.P. McManus and what he does for the sport. The ultimate ambition would be to one day train a horse in those famous green and gold silks. Recently, from eight runners in England, we have had six winners and two places. I generally only keep four or five horses in training at any one time, so to have won races with every horse in the stable is something I am very proud of.

I like to keep my operation small scale so that I can give every horse individual attention, getting to know what makes them tick.

If any of my horses need a break or get injured, I always have a couple waiting in the wings.

Those horses are usually down with Ciaran Fennessy in Cork. The latter does a great job breaking and nurturing young horses.

I must also give a mention to Ciaran’s dad, Liam, from whom I have sourced most of my horses. All of them have won races for us, so I am very thankful to Ciaran and Liam.

I also have a really nice Dylan Thomas three-year-old, out of dual bumper, blacktype hurdle and chase winner Laetita, in training. At the moment he is doing all the right things and showing huge amounts of promise.

The horse is owned in partnership by myself and a really good friend of mine. We hope to go down the point-to-point route with the horse before selling him on. Hopefully he might even be bought to stay in training with myself.

Racing in Britain can be just as competitive as Ireland but I just find it’s easier to place your horses over there. You have far more options to choose from and can be almost guaranteed that your horse will have its required trip, track configuration, ground and so forth.

Trainers are often forced to run their horses in a race just because its the only suitable option within that grade for so many weeks.

The horse may not be suited to the track but its a case of run there or wait another month or two.

I have built up a very fruitful relationship with jockey Brian Hughes, who has ridden most of our winners in Britain.

Similarly, Danny Mullins does a great job riding our horses in Ireland and he gave Da Baba Elephant an inspired ride when winning at Wexford.

Hopefully my association with both riders continues to blossom over the coming months and years.