Who’s had the biggest influence on the way you train?

We’re a team effort, really, but my wife, Mary, was always show jumping and next thing we got married. My father always had horses, and I was a jockey myself. For an owner like J.P. (McManus) to come into the yard, that was really the icing on the cake.

When did you know that Spillane’s Tower was a Cheltenham Festival horse?

Well, I liked this horse the minute I saw him coming off the lorry. We started running him in a few hurdle races, which he won, and I said, ‘My God, if he can jump a fence, we’ll be in business.’ And thankfully, he can jump a fence! He’s a great jumper. When he won the Grade 1 at Punchestown, I knew we had a proper horse.

Is there a race at the Festival that’s on your bucket list?

Yeah, there’s a lot of races on the bucket list! I thought I’d never even have an entry in the Gold Cup, never mind a runner, but I am looking forward to it. I won’t go over there just to have a runner, I’ll go over there with a real live chance

What’s something that you wish more people knew about being a trainer?

It is a tough business. You don’t come across owners like J.P., they’re very scarce really. I’ve been fortunate that he came into my yard. Other than that, I’d say I’d be nearly RIP in racing! I’d be tipping away at the bottom. It’s nice to be competing at the top.

What would your ideal day off look like, if you get those at all?

Oh, I don’t like days off. I don’t like holidays. I love going racing, even if I don’t have a runner. You meet some brilliant people. I wouldn’t be a man for the sun. An hour on the beach, I’d be probably gone off my head! I’m happy out at home with the horses. I love going to the sales, and I love the racing people. I actually say at times that I’m living in heaven really.

If you could switch places with another trainer at the festival, who would it be?

I’m just happy with the number I have, I don’t know would I switch with the likes of Willie or Gordon, I take off my hat to them. They’re incredible people, and the trainers in England are the same. Nicky Henderson has been through such a frustrating time with knockouts and Constitution Hill. I don’t envy him. And Paul Nicholls, I wish him all the very best of luck, but hopefully I’ll be trying to beat him if I can.

Danny Mullins: ‘I rode five winners and wondered what everybody was doing wrong’

Who has had the most influence on how you ride?

Ruby Walsh would have been the one I have always looked up to, he’s the whole package. But for me, starting to ride as a jump jockey, riding in a generation with Barry Geraghty, ultimate man on the big day, Paul Carberry, master technician, A.P. McCoy, coming over to ride regularly in good races, Davy Russell, record speaks for itself as well. To ride through that generation definitely sharpened my sword to allow me to do what I can do today.

What is the biggest mistake that riders make their first time at the Cheltenham Festival?

Lack of preparation. You have to know your horses, know your opposition, know the track. It’s like going to ride anywhere new. I’ve been lucky enough to ride so many great places and to go there and ride successfully. I’ve been riding a lot of very good horses and having a good team of people around you preparing those horses, it makes the job an awful lot easier.

Are there any races at Cheltenham where the tactics have gone straight out the window when the tapes went up?

Every handicap! You look at Jimmy Du Seuil’s win in the Coral Cup last year, and it’s probably one of them handicaps where everything went smooth, a few good fellas setting the pace, favourite and second favourite lead me along. I was able to track them down to the last and run away an easy winner. That race worked out well because the pace was right. Often you can get the position in Cheltenham, but there’s no point being in position if the pace doesn’t match it.

Is there a race at the Festival that’s still on your bucket list?

I’d love to win a Champion Chase. It’s two milers, open championship level, speed, jumping at speed and really attacking. You need the ultimate horse. Moscow Flyer was always one of my favourite horses to watch when I was younger.

What’s something you’ve had to learn the hard way in your riding career?

Nothing comes easy. It’s not as easy as it seems. I think my first seven rides on the flat, I rode five winners and wondered what everybody was doing wrong. I thought, ‘this is what it’s meant to be.’ And then between getting an awful lot taller and an awful lot heavier, you soon get brought back down to earth when you have to rebuild and become a jump jockey. Take nothing for granted.

What’s something you wish more people knew about your line of work?

I think, the brilliance of the animal we get to work with. People think that it’s robotic going out there, but the amount of work that goes in to fine tune the horses to produce what they do, the ones that win on the day, that’s unbelievable. You think of race courses like Gowran Park, for example, where you can get down close to the last few fences and watch horses coming down over those fences at real speed, and when you get close enough that you can feel the horses shake the ground as they gallop by, that’s something that people don’t get to experience on the TV.

Henry de Bromhead: ‘I feel pretty lucky to be where we are’

Who would you say has had the most influence on you as a trainer?

I’d have to say probably Sir Mark Prescott.

Is there a race at the Festival that you haven’t won yet that is on your bucket list?

To be honest, I don’t think there is! We’ve ticked most of the Grade 1s, so I’m happy, but we’d love to win them all again.

What’s something you wish more people knew about being a trainer?

That’s a really tough question! We’re always banging on how hard it is, and so everyone knows that. I suppose, relaying bad news is probably one of the harder things.

What would your ideal day off look like, if you ever get those?

My ideal day off is probably ice bath, sauna, paddle, and then head off and watch my kids show jumping.

If you had to switch places with another trainer at Cheltenham, who would it be?

I feel pretty lucky to be where we are. But I suppose, you’d have to say Willie. He’s so dominant, and he has such an amazing record there.

What tells you that a horse is a Cheltenham Festival horse?

I suppose you just get signs throughout the year, temperament, and then class, having that class to go and win there.

Joseph O’Brien: ‘They have to have a strong mind as well as having the talent’

Who has had the most influence on the way you train?

I grew up working for Dad (Aidan O’Brien), and I never worked for anybody else. So, I suppose we would’ve picked up what we’ve learned from Mum (Annemarie O’Brien) and Dad. Everything I’ve learned has been from their guidance over the years.

If you could switch places with another trainer at the Festival, who would it be?

I suppose Willie Mullins looks like he has a pretty strong team across the week this year, so it’d be nice to have some of his kit.

What tells you a horse is a Cheltenham Festival horse rather than just a very good horse?

They have to have a strong mind as well as having the talent, because the atmosphere there is different to what they’ve met really anywhere else over the course of the season.

Is there a race at the Festival that you haven’t won yet that’s on your bucket list?

I think the Cheltenham Gold Cup would be a special race to win at some stage in our career.

What’s something you wish more people knew about your line of work?

I suppose, really and truly, just the privilege of spending our time with horses, and the fact that, as well as being athletes, they have their own personalities, and finding out what that is and what makes them tick is a huge part of our job.

What would your ideal day off look like, if you get them?

My ideal day off would revolve around...taking my dogs for a walk and having a relaxing day at home.