How did you get into racing?

My dad was a bookie and he had horses with Bunny Cox. He had a horse named Annalong who won a Galway Hurdle (1968). In the ‘80s he had horses with Con Collins. The first horse I had was Hide The Evidence. He won the Royal Bond at Fairyhouse about 20 years ago. My granny died and grandad came to live with us in Holywood. He was fond of a wee drink, and any time that my mum went out, he’d have a drink and when he was finished he’d show us the empty tin and say “Here, son, hide the evidence,” so that’s how the horse got his name.

Fast forward about six years, I had a very decent horse named Stephanie Frances. She won a bumper at Punchestown in maybe 2013 and we sold her at Fairyhouse a few weeks later. The Skeltons bought her and she won four or five chases. She was named after my mother and mother law.

I went for years without horses, and then during Covid and lockdown, I was watching the racing and Eddie Harty was on. I used to work in the bank with him, and it got me thinking so I bought a flat horse with him. I had a few horses with Eddie, and then I decided to try and get one with Willie Mullins.

Spindleberry was bought by guys including Mark O’Hare who trains near Banbridge, and Mark named her. He had Honeysuckle as well, so Spindleberry is an indigenous Irish plant just like Honeysuckle is. She had won her point-to-point with Mark, and myself and my wife Bronagh went down to see her and we both just loved her. The fact that Bronagh loved her was very important because it meant I got the go-ahead! We love going racing and no matter where our horses run we’ll go, the more obscure the track the better. We have four boys and a girl, so it’s great to bring everyone together for a day at the races.

Spindleberry was unbeaten in 2025, what’s on the cards for next year?

We couldn’t run her much last season because the ground was very quick, there wasn’t much rain. She had four chases and won all of them. Willie was hinting about her going to Cheltenham but the ground was too quick so she didn’t go. Then she won the WillowWarm Gold Cup at Fairyhouse so it worked out in her favour. She seems to run well fresh. She got at least eight weeks between races and she seemed to be great every time she came out. I wouldn’t like to see her run more than four times in a season. It tests your patience, but you’re not going to have a horse if you run too often. If you start with the welfare of the horse and work your way back, everything should be alright.

She’s running on New Year’s Day, and we’ll have to have a chat with Willie about where she goes after that, but the Irish Gold Cup would be in my head. It may not be in Willie’s head so we’ll see. You just don’t know with Willie, she could be on the Cheltenham team but you won’t know which race. You’re in the squad but you don’t know if you’re a corner back or a centre forward!

I don’t think we’ve seen the best of her. She’s done everything, especially in her chasing career, very easily, so I think there’s more in her. I think the sky is the limit. People tell me I’m getting carried away but that’s what owning a horse is about. I would love to see her having a tilt at the big boys and maybe ending up in the Gold Cup, but she’s probably more likely to end up in a mares’ chase.

I would have no problem going to the DRF, but I’ll have to listen to Willie. Ruby Walsh said to me one day that we could run against the geldings, get well beaten, and end up disappointed. I thought about it, and I wouldn’t be disappointed because I just love her, she’ll never disappoint us. I’d be far more disappointed if we didn’t give her a chance to express how good she can be. I’d be disappointed in myself because I have some control over that.

What is her personality like at home?

There’s two girls down in Willie’s that deal with her, Hannah Utley and Janna Walsh, and every time I meet them they’re so positive about her and how sweet and straightforward she is. They just love her to death. Paul Townend says the same when he rides her, that she’s so uncomplicated and straightforward. She can go from the front, sit in behind, you can do anything on her. When you hear that it’s really nice as an owner, it really warms you up. As far as I’m concerned, she can do everything but talk! Spindleberry is special. I do honestly think the sky is the limit. I don’t think anyone knows how good she is yet. She has the heart of a lion and we’re very blessed to have her.

Our great wee friend Eddie McAllister, who passed away after a short illness during the year, was a genius on all things equine and he went racing everywhere with us. He just knew and loved everything there was to know and his dear wife Rita would say that he owned the horses vicariously. Eddie only had a short time to live and was reconciled with what lay ahead but he communicated to Rita before he died how much he regretted not being able to see how far Spindleberry might go.

Further down the line, would you consider keeping her as a broodmare?

It wouldn’t be a field I would know a lot about but I’d certainly love to hold on to her and breed from her. She’s a lovely, big mare. She’s not going to run forever, and she’ll be retired at the top of her game. Her welfare is the only thing that matters. She’ll step out at the top, hopefully at the very top some day!

Do you have any other horses at the moment?

I’ve had horses with the Hartys, and they’re lovely people, they’re a great family. We have a novice hurdler, Barley Lane, with them. He ran very nicely at Punchestown a couple of weeks ago. Bronagh named him after a lane way in Newry that she used to walk to and from primary school. I think it’s more built-up now, but she said she’d be frightened walking down Barley Lane when it was dark after school. He’s a really lovely lad and a lovely looking horse, he’s beautiful. He could be a good horse to follow in 2026. He’ll be a chaser eventually, so anything he does over hurdles will be a bonus.

What’s been your biggest learning this year?

You’ve got to take your time. If you don’t give the horses time, they’ll take it themselves. Whatever patience you have you’ll need to double it. I can get a bit excited about my horses, but the other thing I’ve learned is you don’t train the horses yourself. You give the horses to a trainer and you leave it with the experts. Don’t interfere, let them get on with it. Of course you want to be involved and be consulted but, ultimately, leave the decision with the trainer.

Could you pick out a highlight of the year?

Spindleberry winning the WillowWarm Gold Cup. Danny (Mullins, jockey) said that he was surprised how easily she took him to the third last and I was thinking it’s just ability. Winning that race was the highlight, and Danny saying that after the race was very nice to hear. I could cry talking about her. My wife is the same, she’s just so important to us. We’re bloody fortunate and lucky that we can afford a horse like her.