Tell me about your history in the racing industry?

Well, I did my time with Pat Taaffe, I rode his first winner as a trainer at Leopardstown and I used to look after Captain Christy when he won the Gold Cup in 1974. He was a very good horse.

I’ve worked in racing since I was 15 and I’m 72 now, I still ride out every morning.

I was actually at Ascot last week with a couple of horses, driving the box, and I also went to Epsom. I get around a lot with the horses, I’m flat to the mat! When you have a few horses, you have to do what you can to keep them going. I’d do anything for them.

Have you ridden out for Pat (Martin, trainer)?

I haven’t ridden out for Pat, no, he’s too far away in Meath as I’m from Sligo, but I’ve had a few point-to-pointers all winter and I have a few young horses here. We’re breaking in a three-year-old by Idaho at the minute, he’s a half-brother to a horse that’s won three times over hurdles. He’s a bit small so I’m praying that he grows a wee bit. He’s grown out rather than up so far, a bit like myself!

Did you have any luck with the pointers this year?

I didn’t this year, but I had in the past. It’s very competitive now, I find. I had a mare by Ocovango that I thought would have won but her wind wasn’t right so I sold her as a riding horse. I gave Pat’s son Jack a few point-to-point rides, he’s a hard working lad.

How did the syndicate come about?

I started off the syndicate, I had a mare called Crystal Pool with Pat and then the others wanted to join me. Pat found Explorers Way on an online auction and he bought him there for us.

He didn’t cost that much so we were lucky to get him, he’s a nice fun horse. It’s their first time buying into a horse and their first winner.

My brother-in-law is part of the syndicate; he doesn’t know anything about horses, Liam Lipletts. Then there’s another guy, Ciaran O’Keeffe, in the syndicate as well. He’s been a friend of mine for years.

Where did the name and colours for the syndicate come from?

Well, my name is Humphrey, so when I had my first horse with Pat we said we’d call it the HumptyDumpty Syndicate. When the lads joined me in the syndicate, I told them that I didn’t mind if they wanted to change the name but they agreed to leave it the way it is.

The colours belonged to a good friend of mine that passed away, Dermot Byrnes. He was from Galway and there were a few friends of mine in his syndicate. They weren’t using the colours anymore and they said that I could have them. They’re the Galway colours.

Were you confident going into the race?

I was confident because he’d had two fairly good runs. His form at Navan was very good, and his form before that at Cork was good enough as well. He was improving with every run.

We had a great day on Saturday though, we came back and we drank it out at home! I was up at five on Saturday morning. I had to pick up a load of horses in Cork for the sales. So I dropped them off and then drove up to Down Royal. It was a good few miles up but it was well worth it!

Have you got a long-term plan for him now?

I think he’d make a nice horse over hurdles because he stays very well, but I leave all of that entirely up to Pat. I’ve known Pat a very long time and he’s doing a great job with the horse. He deserves to be sent some higher-class horses.

It depends how the handicapper treats us too, he only gave us 4lb on Saturday so I’m happy enough with that. We’re going to try and win another race with him anyway, Pat told me he’s going to run on July 13th at Navan. It’s a 0-80 so it’ll be a stronger race. I’d be more of a jumping man than a flat man but it’s nice to have a horse on the flat as well.

I also have another horse myself, a four-year-old who’s progressing nicely. He’s ready to run now and he’s in training with Brian McMahon.

How do you find the overall ownership experience?

It’s always a fantastic day out. I had a bit of trouble trying to take my nephew to the races with me though. I tried to get him a pass from HRI and they said that I wasn’t entitled to one. We get four AIR cards but it’s a bit of a job to get any more than that.

I think if you have a runner on the day, you should be entitled to a few extra tickets. I had a mare that won at Cartmel and they gave me as many tickets as I wanted, it was very nice of them. I work very hard to keep my horses, so it’s nice to leave that behind for the day and enjoy myself at the races.