UP and coming apprentices Andrew Slattery, Ben Coen and Gavin Ryan have been going head to head on the racecourse this season but, back in their classroom in Killenaule, the trio have been putting themselves under pressure of a different kind in recent weeks by juggling their blossoming riding careers with sitting the all-important Leaving Certificate.

They are probably in the unique position of being in the same class, the first time this has happened in a school with a strong tradition of producing talented hurlers rather than jockeys. “We nearly always have a player on the top team,” said Gavin.