FOR my very first Christmas in 2004, Santa brought a rocking horse: Opal. That was the first time I was put in a saddle, so it was inevitable really that life would be surrounded by horses.

My first memorable RDS win was back in 2014, I was nine years old and won on Thursday in Simmonscourt with Little Lord of the Hills. The following day, I was reserve champion in the 128cm final on PARC Epic. 2024 was the 10th consecutive year that I’ve qualified for Dublin.