TWO winners over the Christmas period, capped what had already been a very productive start to my career in Britain. Having only moved over full-time in August, to take up a role as conditional jockey with the Jonjo O’Neill yard, I have ridden 15 winners over the last five months. On the back of those recent successes, I am hoping to push on into 2021 and hopefully build up more contacts so that I can challenge for the conditional jockeys’ title next season.

I didn’t come from a racing background as such, although my dad is a first cousin of Brendan Sheridan. My uncle, David Brogan, is also a well-known breeder who owns Coolnahay Stud in Mullingar. However, despite those links, I had no direct contact with horses as a child growing up. I was into most sports, playing a lot of GAA and rugby but my interest never went too deep into racing.