EARLIER this month I rode two winners in two days, bringing my overall career total to five. Having only held a jockey’s licence since May, I am thrilled with how everything has gone in such a short period. The next few months are going to be all about finding the right balance, as I am due to sit my Leaving Certificate in June.

My father Paul (Gilligan) is a well known trainer, so I grew up around horses and racing. Dad had a particularly exciting year in 2010 and fortunately I was just about old enough to appreciate it. Although I was too young to travel to Cheltenham to witness Berties Dream win the Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle, I was watching at home surrounded my family and friends.