I’VE been delighted with how things have gone since I took out an amateur licence towards the end of 2023. It gives you a meaning, something to get up for in the morning. I’ve been lucky enough to ride some really nice horses and, for some big name trainers. When someone said to me recently that I was really in the light, I replied that I’d spent long enough in the dark.

My mother was a social worker and dad a mechanic; so I had no background in racing. I got into ponies through Jill O’Gorman, who was in my class in school. The Griffin family, who bred Rocky Creek amongst others, were also neighbours of ours. I would have ridden ponies with both when I was younger. About 12, I started going in to local trainer James Sheehan.