LAST week I sent out my first official runner as a fully-fledged trainer; French Light, who finished second over hurdles at Clonmel.

In my role as assistant trainer, I had been overseeing the six-strong team of legendary handler Jonathan Sheppard since arriving in Ireland before Christmas. With our first two runners both getting in the money, our decision to make the trip across the Atlantic was somewhat vindicated. It had long been the intention for me to take over the licence once Jonathan retired but that news came as something of a shock to all of us when it arrived.