TUESDAY’S Champion Hurdle will be a proud occasion for all involved in Quill Farm, as both first and second favourites, Annie Power and Identity Thief were born and reared at the stud. I have been employed as Farm Manager for the last five years and while we have enjoyed a number of big successes during that period, a victory for either horse at this year’s Cheltenham Festival would far outweigh previous achievements.

My only contact with horses growing up came in the shape of two non-thoroughbreds kept on our family farm. However, my parents always took us to the local Kilbeggan meeting and we attended the famous Laytown races one particular year. As I grew older my interest deepened and I always took three days holidays from school every March!