Although I could claim off bottom weight when I started out as an apprentice, I found my weight gradually crept up day by day. By the time I had lost my claim, I was only able to ride the colts in maidens off 9st 5lb, or higher weights in handicaps. I took the decision to extend my riding career by switching to jump racing, but I knew even that would only give me a couple of more years. Longer term, I knew that my future would be in the training ranks. 

My father had an interest in horses but never really got the chance to do anything. He would have gone racing a lot when he was younger and always followed it. When I was growing up, RTÉ Racing was always on in the house at home. I think that’s how I got started. Point-to-pointing was very strong in Cork at that time with local trainers Eugene O’Sullivan, Mick Winters and Adrian Maguire going quite well.