ROSSBEIGH Beach in Glenbeigh, County Kerry has a long tradition with pony racing but recently a number of horses have been trained on the sand before going on to win under rules. I became the latest handler to send out a Rossbeigh-trained winner when Like A Diamond was successful at Roscommon.

My Dad always had horses at home and my uncle Philip [O’Connor] trained winners on the track and in point-to-points. From a young age, all I ever wanted to do was work with horses; something I did from my early teens. All my school holidays and long weekends were spent at my uncle’s stables in Fermoy; mucking out, riding and doing yard duties.