How did you get into racehorse ownership?

I got into racehorse ownership via a syndicate with a good friend and neighbour Tom Howley around 10 years ago.

We both trained a horse called Mickandtom funnily enough who went pointing but unfortunately didn’t show much promise even after a spell in the talented Robbie Armstrong yard of Stoneyford.

What was your best day at the races?

When my future Grade 1-winning star Battleoverdoyen, who was purchased by me from his breeder Caroline Berry for £6,000, landed the four-year-old maiden point-to-point at Loughanmore in April 2017. The betting went from 4/1 to odds-on and the win was in front of all my great family and friends.

Subsequently he went to the Tattersalls sale in Cheltenham and was sold for £235,000 to Gordon Elliott and Gigginstown House Stud.

What is the biggest drawback about being a racehorse owner?

The training fees and veterinary costs for injuries that occur when trying to keep the horses sound.

In your experience, which racecourse in Ireland treats owners the best and why?

In my opinion Navan is the best for this. Eddie in hospitality is a true gentleman and with his team ensures a delightful meal and a panoramic view of the track from the restaurant which always makes racing a great day out.

Flat or jump racing, which do you prefer and why?

Jump racing. I frequent racecourses all over Ireland and think jump racing provides more drama and requires the most from jockeys with regard to skills and has the biggest stars in the game.

What qualities do you look for in a trainer?

Honesty, integrity and the ability to tell you how it is, and I’m lucky with the following three: pre-trainer Molly McCrory, point-to-point trainer Jerry Cosgrave and track supremo Gavin Cromwell.

Molly has a great way with horses and is very kind with them. She retains all their details in her head and keeps me up to date. She brought on Ujumpthelastuwin and is doing the same for my young pointer. She has a good touch about her.

What improvements would you like to see racecourses in Ireland do for owners?

HRI should allow all Irish racecourses to provide free entrance tickets for all owners and sponsors to all tracks regardless whether their horses run on that day. After all, owners and sponsors are the lifeblood of the racing industry in Ireland.

How do you think the current crisis will impact on racing and on ownership in particular?

The Covid-19 crisis will lead to a big reduction of store house purchases in Ireland and Britain and on-course bookmarkers’ numbers will drop dramatically.

Much of the individual ownership of horses will decline and more syndicates will be formed to reduce costs associated with owning horses in training.

What significance do your colours hold?

I chose my colours as they were my boxing colours early in life and also the colours represent my native Down.

How did your syndicate get its name?

Ujumpthelastuwin runs under my colours but actually is a syndicate horse. My racing manager Michael Martin and good friend Stevie McAvoy make up the Ujumpthelastuwin team.

The horse’s name was chosen by Michael Martin as it’s a great Irish racing cliché .

When buying a horse, what do you look for?

I always look for a big well-boned athletic sort with great conformation and a powerful walking action.

What horses do you currently have in training?

I have Ujumpthelastuwin in training with the fantastic Gavin Cromwell.

What’s next on the agenda for your horses?

Ujumpthelastuwin will have a winter campaign with Gavin.

I have a horse going for a point-to-point winter campaign and also a horse going to the prestigious Derby Sale this summer. It will be no harm if the sale is delayed this year.

Have you any horses to look forward to?

I currently have five horses on the books for the future. I have a three-year-old old by Shirocco out of Presenting Flower and also a three-year-old Califet out of Lady Bishop.

I have a two-year-old out of Another Evening by Pour Moi, a half-brother to Livelovelaugh and two yearlings – a Getaway out of Jesse’s Oscar and a Mount Nelson out of Fashion’s Worth, the same family of Yanworth.

What would help to make Irish racing more competitive for the smaller owner/trainer?

HRI should run more lesser graded races and offer entry only to the smaller trainer to prevent horses going to England and Scotland for easier races.

Smaller trainers and owners are fed up running a distance behind the big guns and might of Gordon Ellliott and Willie Mullins.

What advice would you give to someone thinking of becoming a racehorse owner?

Be prepared for the huge expense of owning a racehorse and if possible form a syndicate to reduce costs.

Be prepared for the long game to get to the winner’s enclosure, horses are not straightforward.

I’ve been lucky and have had three out of four horses that I’ve owned win on track. Believe me, when everything goes right there is no better feeling than owning a horse when it wins.

Most importantly, when plotting a gamble tell no one when it’s going to win!

Michael Lynch was in conversation with Olivia Hamilton