Which of the four days of the Festival is your favourite?

I always like the buzz surrounding the first day. Everyone is full of excitement and dreams are still very much alive. It really sets the tone for the rest of the week.

Tell us about your favourite Festival experience.

Finishing third in last year’s Champion Hurdle on Darver Star was a real buzz. He was seen as an underdog but he ran a fantastic race.

If you could ride one horse that’s running at this year’s Festival, who would it be?

It would have to be Envoi Allen. He looks absolutely flawless and is as good a jumper of a fence I have ever seen. He seems to have it all so I’d have to say he is the one horse I’m not riding that I would love to be on.

You’ve had great success on the track in Ireland, but what would it mean to you to ride a winner at Cheltenham?

It would mean the world to me. It’s the meeting we all aspire to even ride in, so to have a winner at the Festival would be a dream come true.

If you could make one change to the Festival, what would it be?

I’d bring back the novices’ handicap chase. It’s a race that has produced some really nice horses over the last few years, including A Plus Tard and Imperial Aura. I thought it was a lovely race for a novice chaser that wasn’t quite up to graded standard, but could be in time.

Compiled by Brian O’Keeffe