HAVING been a regular racegoer at the Galway Festival since I was six years old, it was a dream come true to win the Connacht Hotel Handicap on Monday night. The whole occasion was even more special as I did so aboard Whiskey Sour, a horse owned by my father, Luke. He has a far longer association with Ballybrit, dating back to his childhood visits with my grandfather.

My initial interest in horses began around the same time I made my first visit to Galway. Armed with dreams of one day making it as a jockey, I spent most of my weekends and holidays riding a pony named Diamond, which Dad bought in Maynooth. We competed in pony clubs, eventing and cross country races. From there I moved on to riding out at Ted Walsh’s local yard in Kill. I was around 10 at the time and rode Commanche Court, a horse that had won an Irish National and Triumph Hurdle, as well as finishing second in a Gold Cup. He must have felt like he was running loose most days, as I barely weighed six stone back then! I continued to ride out in Ted’s until after my Junior Cert, at which point I went to Willie Mullins for a summer. Dad always had horses with Willie; enjoying plenty of luck with them over the years.