How did you get into racehorse ownership?

Through friendship with Brian Cooper, Tom Cooper’s brother. I got into ownership in a couple of different syndicates.

Our most noteworthy successes were with Forpadydeplasterer in Charlie Chawke’s Goat Syndicate. We had many good days with that fantastic horse.

What was your best day at the races and why?

It has to be Forpady winning the Arkle Chase in 2009 with Barry Geraghty up and holding off Kalahari King by a short-head. You can imagine the joy of having a Cheltenham winner with a great bunch of people who knew how to celebrate!

He was a wonderful horse to own and brought much colour and excitement into our lives.

It’s terrific that he is having such a good working retirement with success in the dressage sphere and the Racehorse to Riding classes.

We’ve had a good few horses with Tom (Cooper) over the years. One we bought in France was Son Amix. He was second in the Pertemps Final at Cheltenham in 2011 and fourth in the Fred Winter there the previous year.

He fell in the Thyestes in 2013 when going well and never got back to the track.

What is the biggest drawback about being a racehorse owner?

The fact that it’s so hard to find the one that’s going to win. So many of them don’t even make it to the track.

The other drawback is all the hidden costs – vets’ bills, entry fees, extra administration costs on top of the training fees.

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

Tipperary is very nice and we had memorable times at Punchestown even though we haven’t had a winner there. We got great food and easy access to the track.

We like going to Leopardstown and Galway is always good as is Clonmel and Killarney. Andrew Hogan, manager at Tipperary (and Cork), Tom Hogan’s son, is a pure gentleman as is Eddie who works there as well.

Facilities for owners have improved over the years. The biggest challenge is to get people to go racing, when it’s so easy to stay at home with the television or in the betting shop. A comfortable place for owners can only enhance attendances.

It’s important to keep prize money levels up, especially over fences.

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

You can’t beat the social side of jumps racing. And it’s good for you especially winter racing! To go out and follow your sport in tough conditions and have a meeting to look forward to outside at that time of year is always welcome. Racing is open to everyone.

I do appreciate flat racing; I’ve been to the Prix de l’Arc and the Breeders’ Cup, they are both showcases for that code. It’s always great to see Irish horses contesting Group 1 races.

What qualities do you look for in a trainer?

We’ve had a few trainers, April San with Ferdy Murphy, and also one with Pat Hughes. We are surrounded by so many trainers within a few miles here in Kildare. But our horses are with Tom (Cooper) miles away in Tralee. It’s a small stable and we are personal friends with him. The point is that if Tom gets a good horse he is able to train it as well as anyone else. Small trainers such as Paul Nolan, Ted Walsh, Denis Hogan, they are the backbone of racing.

Tom is true, genuine and honest. He puts in the work and it’s a labour of love really – it’s tough going.

What improvements would you like courses in Ireland do for owners?

I suppose what is needed is a consistent level of facilities in the hospitality areas. Renovation and refurbishment should be ongoing. Tea, coffee and meal vouchers whether you are a big or small owner, access to parking and recognition are always appreciated. You feel it’s going to be a grand day out.

What significance do your colours hold?

I’m a keen Tipperary hurling fan so we were going to choose blue and gold. I’d liked the Aga Khan’s dark green colours with red epaulettes and as my late mother was from Limerick we went for the green and white epaulettes. It would be great to see them in the winning enclosure more often!

How did your syndicate get its name?

I live at a small private stud of the same name in Straffan, Co Kildare.

When buying a horse, what do you look for?

I leave it to Tom and his son Bryan. A horse that is a decent size and a good head tends to stand out. Forpadydeplasterer is about 17hh, a proper stamp of a horse. Crocodile Dundee is also a fine stamp of a horse.

I haven’t been involved in the breeding side of things; it’s tough and anyone involved in that business deserve any luck they get.

Tom bought Billy De Kid in France. For Pedro is a half-brother to Total Enjoyment who won the Champion Bumper for Tom at Cheltenham in 2004.

What horses do you currently have in training?

Crocodile Dundee, Billy De Kid and For Pedro.

What’s next on the agenda for your horses?

Crocodile Dundee – we will keep him running probably in a handicap chase next. We had to get a win into him, he kept on just being beaten and after carrying top weight over three miles in a chase at Wexford in September into third place, he won the next two times out over two miles, hurdles in Listowel and last time out at Tipperary over fences. He doesn’t like tacky ground.

Billy De Kid has had a wind op and ran at Thurles on Thursday (ran well, mistake at the last, finished eight). He’s not a winter ground horse either.

We hope to have For Pedro back racing in the spring.

Have you any horses to look forward to? (i.e. young/unbroken horses)

A few lads I know are buying a Stowaway horse with Paul Nolan so no doubt will want me to take a leg.

We will go in again with Tom and keep supporting him.

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

You have got this dominance now by four or five big trainers in both National Hunt and flat racing. A lot of small trainers went out of business in the recession. I like to compete against horses handled by the big trainers. If I have a graded horse, I know it’s special.The sport of kings is not just for the elite. I wouldn’t be inclined to limit the amount of horses that trainers and owners can run in a race.

I think more focus should be put on the smaller trainer and with syndicates getting going again, it’s great to see horses in these yards supporting the local trainer.

One can only have great admiration for trainers such as Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott and their top-class operations but it is important that the smaller trainer continues to be part of the fabric of Irish racing.

Every owner would like success but ownership should be spread around. Look at J.P. McManus – if he buys a horse he’s inclined to leave it in the yard. Credit to him for that.

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

I think the day you write your first cheque, write it down as zero in your mind. Ownership is not an investment – it’s a hobby and a sport. You have to manage your expectations. Racing doesn’t care what you paid for your horse, there’s no automatic winning.

If your horse wins it’s a good bonus.

John Ryan was in conversation with Olivia Hamilton