WHEN I was very young and I would tell people my name, they would ask “anything to Arkle?” I never thought it strange that even after almost 30 years the Dreaper name would almost always trigger that response and it still does today. Looking back and considering it, I suppose it’s something to be proud of and I’m glad that I have managed to land myself a great job in jump racing, as PR & Communications Manager at Punchestown.

Growing up I didn’t fully appreciate the quality of horses that Dad had in the yard at Greenogue. I used to love spending time there because while the lads worked very hard, they also used to have great craic! Nicky Connors and Ken Morgan were engaged in a decade long slagging match, while Joe Finglas, Dermot McLoughlin, Charlie Riley, the Stafford lads and farrier Jimmy Flanagan stirred the pot.