AIDAN Fitzgerald describes his Cobajay Stables as “a primary school for horses”. If he was educating children, parents would be clamouring to be accepted, given the impressive amount of talent produced by his yard outside Borris in County Carlow.

60 horses are currently in exercise there, including 20 in pre-training for the master of Closutton, Willie Mullins. Some of the most successful people attribute their achievements to hiring the best, and the same could be said of Mullins, be it a bloodstock agent, jockey, or pre-trainer.