THE flat season has just ended and it has been my most successful year to date; from our small string winning five races from 34 runs, returning a profit of almost €50 for every euro staked and an 18% strike rate.

Hopefully clients and punters will see that our yard is one to keep on side and be a part of, especially given our luck at rejuvenating horses that have had problems or may have had enough of racing.

I was born and bred on the edge of the Curragh, where my father Paddy, spent 25 years as assistant trainer to Paddy Prendergast. My earliest memories are of going into the yard with dad before school each morning and accompanying him to the races.

In 1980, while still only in primary school, I was fortunate enough to witness at Royal Ascot Coollooney Prince, trained by P.J. Prendergast, win the Windsor Castle Stakes; it was unfortunately the day that Darkie Prendergast passed away.

Despite being surrounded by high class flat horses, my real passion was National Hunt racing with 10 time champion jockey Frank Berry my childhood hero. I hated the name Shane as a kid and would never answer to it but when dinner was ready and my sister would call “Frank”, I was in like a light!

At the age of 11, I started riding out for Michael Halford every day I could; at weekends and school holidays. He was very good to me, honing my style in the saddle. I learned so much during my time in his yard and would consider Michael a top mentor, trainer and a close friend.

I then spent three years with Jim Bolger, where I received a great education not only in racing but life itself. I sometimes meet Mr Bolger at the races and he still gives me advice or a telling off if he feels I am not doing as I should!

Those were great times in Coolcullen working with men of the calibre of Aidan O’Brien, Conor Everard, Willie Supple, Tony McCoy, Paul Carberry and Christy Roche. We had some high class horses in training, including the likes of Topanoora and Elementary, both of whom I was fortunate enough to be allowed ride work on.

With Christy Roche as stable jockey in Coolcullen, I was asked to come up and work in his yard in the Curragh with some top class National Hunt horses, and so I moved up to him.

Still only a teenager, I spent what I can honestly say were the best nine years of my life learning from Christy. To work for and ride every morning with a seven-time champion you learn an awful lot.

I had plenty of opportunities to ride in bumpers, point-to-points and over hurdles. We had great horses such as Direct Route in his early days, King Wah Glory, Khayrawani, Strong Platinum and Joe Mac. Christy was very good to me, taking me under his wing and taking care of me; always teaching me about riding horses and tracks.

After suffering a couple of falls which ended any prospects of continuing in the saddle, I took a step back from racing and went to work in the civil service for six years. However, I kept my foot in the door riding out and going racing with Michael Halford, who by this time counted my father amongst his staff.

About a decade ago, I bought a farm in Errill, Co Laois and built my own gallops and American style barn. In 2010, I started training a couple of point-to-pointers.

My father had a lifetime’s experience in racing. As well as his years with Paddy Prendergast and Michael Halford, he also spent a year in England with Michael Dickinson as he was close friends with Tommy Carmody who was stable jockey at the time and he went over with Tommy.

Initially I just raced the few pointers and sold them on but then I bought a cheap flat horse named Hello Man, who won two races for me in 2010.

From there we gradually added a few more, although our numbers have always been small we consistently turn out winners. I’d have an old-fashioned mind and way of doing things but I think it’s the right way.

Despite the numbers, we have managed to increase our wins each year and our strike rate has always been quite high. In 2015, we operated at an 18% rate, a figure we are very proud of. Whether through luck, hard work or knowledge, we seem to excel with horses who may need a change in scenery and our daily changing routine makes such animals thrive in our yard.

Errill is a tiny village on the Laois/Tipperary border and our 19 acre site is the ideal location from which to train. A river runs through the land and we can stand horses in it, which we find to be a great benefit. We have nine turnout paddocks and if at all possible we try and get the horses out each day. Also, the yard comprises of a two-furlong circular gallop, six-horse walker, 30 x 50 schooling arena, lunging ring with deep Wexford sand and we have 20 boxes and access to a super seven-furlong hill gallop.

It is a real old-world yard and horses just seem to enjoy the peace and quiet and it gets their heads right for racing. I am very lucky as I have great help from everyone, family and friends that I’d be lost without their input and help. I have fantastic staff - Kevin Fanning, an amateur rider with a great pair of hands and I feel he can make a good career in the saddle and I also have the help of two local lads Aaron Fogarty and Patrick Kelly.

War Room, a horse I bought cheaply has been our star this season, winning three times. The late Eugene Kavanagh, a close friend as well as loyal owner, took a half share in the horse and we enjoyed some great nights in Dundalk. I was delighted to be able to provide Eugene with his final winner when the horse won in August, days before he so sadly passed away.

Akiliyna, another we were lucky to get, landed a bit of a touch when winning her maiden at Ballinrobe during the summer. She was a well-bred Aga Khan filly, who had originally been in training with Dermot Weld; I took a chance on her, believing that she needed soft ground. She had a couple of issues and was constantly tying up, something that we were able to work on and help her with and she responded greatly for us.

Both those two horses had been in the back of my mind for some time before I got them. I watch a great deal of racing and am always on the lookout for horses that I feel would benefit from a change in scenery or just a fresh start.

With the horses in training sales now in full swing, I am hoping that there may just be another potential winner or two out there waiting in the wings. I’m always free to help clients and get them horses or take in horses to train or break.

We run a very friendly yard and we all work hard but we love what we do and hard work never hurt anyone!

Shane Duffy was in conversation with John O’Riordan and can be contacted on 087 0544818