ROSE Angel’s win at Dundalk last Friday night was hopefully the first of many, in what I firmly believe to be my most important year to date. Having spent the past two seasons gaining experience and learning my trade, I harbour serious ambitions of challenging for the title of champion apprentice over the coming months.

Growing up in the Dublin suburb of Drimnagh, I had very little contact with horses or racing. None of my family had any interest and I was the first to embrace the sport. From an early age I nagged my mother to take me to the equestrian centre in Ballyfermot and eventually, at the age of 10, I got my way.