Tell us your first Cheltenham Festival memory?

My first proper Festival memory was Fiveforthree winning what’s now called the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle (2008). I lived next to my school and I remember watching the race with my mother on lunch break. Being from Bagenalstown, I remember all the chat was Fiveforthree was a good thing for the race and he obliged at odds of 7/1. I nearly took the roof off the house. Ruby gave him a peach of a ride, delivering him right on the line. I was chuffed heading back to school for the afternoon and I couldn’t concentrate on anything else for the rest of the day (probably the week).

What was your best day’s racing or betting at the Festival?

Easily Hurricane Fly regaining the Champion Hurdle in 2013. I got stuck in ante-post and I went in again at 9/4 on the morning of the race. He went off 13/8 on the day and I thought he was odds-on to be pulled up in running. The feeling of passion when ‘The Fly’ latched back onto the bridle racing down the hill was incredible, I’ll never forget that feeling. Everyone knew he wasn’t getting beat from that point onwards.

Any bad experiences you’d like to tell us about?

I backed and tipped up Energumene (40/1) ante-post to win the Arkle last year on the Champ.ie podcast in March 2020. For a full year, we watched him contract in price, all the way down to 7/2. I couldn’t believe it when he was pulled out of Cheltenham after suffering a setback the week before the Festival. I’m keeping the faith, he’ll gain his revenge on Shishkin in the Queen Mother.

Is there any particular race at the meeting you’ve always been lucky in?

The Gold Cup has been lucky in recent years. Coneygree, Don Cossack and Sizing John gave me a Gold Cup hat-trick from 2015-2017. Coneygree winning it as a novice stands out. It was a gruelling test of stamina with the ground soft on the day. Fair play to connections for rolling the dice that season and I’d love to see similar risk taking more often in NH racing.

What’s your least favourite race of the Festival and why?

The Coral Cup. It’s an absolute maze!

What horse gave you your biggest win at Cheltenham?

Thistlecrack finished off a lovely Festival treble in 2016. He was in a completely different parish on the day.

What horse was your biggest heartbreak loser at Cheltenham?

Entoucas in last year’s Grand Annual Handicap Chase. I put him forward at 25/1 ante-post on Champ.ie’s Road to Cheltenham Challenge Series. He was clearly laid out for the day and everything was going sweetly in running before he divided the second last fence. He still stormed up the hill only to fall short in a photo finish with Sky Pirate. Another stride and we’d have landed a lovely touch.

Describe your standard Cheltenham Festival week?

Ideally, I like to head for Bristol on Monday night. A settler on Tuesday morning is important along with some Clonakilty Black Pudding (if I can source it). If you’re looking to catch me before racing, you’ll probably find me outside the See You Then Bar tucking into on a warm hog roast. I like to hang out near the pre-parade ring during racing.

And what’s your best tip for the 2022 Festival?

I’ve mentioned Energumene already but one at a bigger price I do like is Buddy Rich each-way for the Grand Annual. He does look to have the ideal profile for that two-mile contest and his trainer Gordon Elliott won it recently with Chosen Mate.?