WHEN Bluebell Breeze won in Galway last Sunday, I became the youngest active Irish trainer to send out a winner. I had my first point-to-point runners in February this year and ran my first horses on the track in the autumn. At the moment, I have 14 horses in training, so to get a winner under rules this early in my training career has been brilliant.

I’m from Oldleighlin in Co Carlow. My mam, Imelda (Leahy), was a jockey. She worked in Jim Bolger’s for years and for Dermot Weld. We always kept hunters and eventers at home when I was younger. I started riding out for Shark Hanlon when I was 11 or 12 and worked there part-time until I left school when I was 15. I went working for Willie Mullins for two years.

When I decided that I wanted to be a jockey, I went back to Shark and I rode my first winner for him in a point-to-point. After leaving Shark, I went working for Mick Goff for two seasons. I rode a further two point-to-point winners.

As an amateur, I had about 150 rides on the track. I turned professional last year. I only rode for one season and had about 60 rides. I rode two track winners for Tony Mullins on a horse of our own called Party President. I got badly hurt off him in the parade ring one day, I broke my hip and my leg.

For the moment, the race-riding has taken a back seat. I’m planning to go back riding in time, I’m just so busy with the horses at home, I have to focus on that. Myself and Tom Meagher, the vet from Cahir, had a horse (Cleverfox) between us. He was going to win a point-to-point impressively when he got unseated at the last. We sold him at the Cheltenham Festival sale for £180k to Willie Mullins and that gave me the money to get started training. It’s been off to a flyer since then. I have 15 in training at the moment. Tom gives me most of my support, but I have other owners also.

I always had a lot of faith in Bluebell Breeze. She had some good runs in bumpers and a good run in a maiden hurdle where she had no luck. We thought she’d run well in Galway the last day, especially with the small field. She had run decent around Galway before, so she knew her way around.

It was unreal to see her win. Twice the buzz of ever riding a winner. Especially with Charlotte (Butler) on board. She rides out for me at home and we are very good friends as well. I have a couple of nice three-year-olds that are going four-year-old point-to-pointing in the spring. I’d like to try and get them to run well and move those on.

I’d like to get as many owners and as many horses as I can. We built more stables there only in the last two months.

The aim would be to keep expanding and getting bigger. We have a few horses to run in academy hurdles, there are four or five for point-to-points, and the rest are for the track. I do a lot of the riding out at home. It’s a big advantage being able to sit up on a horse, ride work and get a feel of it yourself. I have some good people around me as well. Aside from Charlotte, Dylan O’Connor, is there every day. Frankie Murphy, who rides in point-to-points for me, and Richie Condon also deserve credit. My mam continues to be a huge help and support.

Adam was in conversation with John O’Riordan.