PROVE The Point’s success in Sligo last weekend, our first on the level for 2016, continued our impressive statistic of having trained a flat winner each season for the last decade. Indeed, our small Co Meath-based yard has done well under both codes, as we have also enjoyed success from a limited number of National Hunt runners.

I was born and reared in Stepaside, close to Leopardstown Racecourse, and often accompanied my father to the races as a child. However, in those days the family were more into greyhounds, with Dad having as many as 40 in his care at any one time. While he primarily trained dogs for coursing, we also had a few runners on the track and I enjoyed following their fortunes as we travelled around the country.