RIDING a winner at Punchestown on Ascending Lark last week meant a lot. All racing people want winners at the big festival meetings. Like everyone, I’d love to get a winner at Cheltenham or Aintree one day but any festival winner is not easily done. Being an Irishman, coming over here and winning at the Punchestown Festival was special.

My father always had horses, so myself, my brother and younger sister did plenty of hunting, show jumping, pony club and all that goes with it. I had a few rides pony racing as well but never had any joy. Around the age of 12, I started riding out for local trainer Danny O’Sullivan at home in Mitchelstown.