MY interest in horses came from a neighbour of mine, John Doherty, who has passed away since. ‘The Doc’ as they called him, took me to a local riding school when I was four. It was run by Pat Doyle’s wife, Mary. I went hunting after that and used to go in and ride out for trainer Mark Molloy in the mornings before school. I left school at 16 and went to work for Danny O’Connell in Bansha.

I got the licence with Danny and rode a few winners point-to-pointing. Multeen Gunner was my first winner in the confined race at Kilfeacle. I spent a year and a half with Danny before I got the chance to go to Tom Hogan. I rode my first winner on the track for Tom; Premier Rebel in a bumper in Ballinrobe (July 2004).