RIDING a first Grade 1 winner on Fleur In The Park in the WillowWarm Gold Cup was unbelievable. The only thing that made it better was that it was for Andy Slattery. The Slatterys have made my career what it is and, I wouldn’t be riding at this level if it wasn’t for Andy, William and Brian and their team at home. They put me on the map, so it was nice to be able to repay them a small bit on Sunday.

Mam and Dad weren’t actually into horses at all, although they did follow the racing. My cousins had ponies and once I got to sit up on one, it took off from there. I told Mam and Dad that I wanted lessons and, to be fair, they took me up to the Tipperary Equestrian Centre. I was only three or four at that time but I went up there every weekend after that.