Get The Irish Field this weekend to read the full interview

DOMESTIC BLISS

I am having a fantastic time in my life right now. My partner Shirley came into my life earlier this year and we’re expecting a baby in January. Some people will say it’s very wrong at my age but I can’t do anything about that. It was always my intention to do my lots on my 100th birthday, go up to the Park to collect my cheque, and then go to the races. Instead of an aspiration that is now a necessity.

MR BRIGHTSIDE

I’ve always told myself ‘Brendan, you can do this’. In the blackest times, when I hadn’t a horse rated 70, I would tell myself I was going to train an Irish Derby winner. Any of us could get a Seabiscuit, a Phar Lap. Things like that motivate me. I’d advise any trainer to get out the Phar Lap DVD when things are going bad. It’s a fantastic story.

RACING POLITICS

There are certain trainers under both codes who influence the programme book. They should think of their colleagues. I don’t think it’s a level playing field. I’ll leave it at that. There is incredible talent in Irish racing but there is also incredible selfishness. Smaller owners and trainers cannot get their horses into valuable handicaps because of multiple entries and in my opinion a lot of those horses do no merit being declared to run on their form figures.

RACECOURSE FACILITIES

Tracks here have taken a huge step forward with the complimentary meal for owners and trainers on the day. We should be grateful for that but not jumping up and down. All tracks should entertain the owners, particularly the losing ones. The winners are in a very different state of mind and will make their own entertainment.

INFORMING THE PUBLIC

I am very saddened by the fall-off in attendances at some of our premier tracks. I feel that the training fraternity in general do not understand how important the public are to the sport. In many other sports the participants go out of their way to meet the supporters. In my opinion there is still a ‘nod-and-wink’ mentality in Irish racing.

I don’t bet so it’s much easier for me to talk about my runners. But racing has never been so clean or as competitive as it is today. I would like to dispel this myth about gambles being organised.

We are competing with a lot of sports and we need to get our act together and treasure the people who are coming to support racing. They are paying in, they are betting, and they deserve plenty of recognition for that.

THE DEMON DRINK

I was pretty good at athletics when I was younger and I have never been a drinker. I was known in England as the Irishman who didn’t drink. I’d rather have a rock shandy and a piece of blackforest gateau than a pint of Guinness in my hand. Alcohol has ruined plenty of promising jockeys and I suppose trainers as well.

ALL-IRELAND FINAL

I’m a True Blue. I don’t think Mayo or any team are a match for Dublin. I cannot see how [Mayo’s] Andy Moran is going to function against that Dublin defence at his age, unless they have very special water in Mayo. We’d all like to see a good game but it’s like a Group 1 horse taking on a premier handicapper.

Get The Irish Field this weekend to read the full interview