How did you get involved in the racing industry?

I’ve been going racing all my life. I went to the races in Phoenix Park; that wasn’t today or yesterday! I can go back to Dawn Run and to Jenny Pittman. I backed Borrough Hill Lad and made a good few pounds! Jenny had said that she had a horse that was coming into bloom.

Tell me about the syndicate.

There are four of us in the syndicate; myself and my three nephews, Fergal, Cathal and Leo. It’s a family thing. I brought the lads into racing, but Fergal would have a big interest.

This is their first venture into racing so it’s great to be a part of it with them. They weren’t at the races last week, as two of the lads were in France, and one is a contractor so he was working. I joked with the lads that we couldn’t defer the celebrations!

This is our second horse, the first got injured unfortunately. I went to the sales at Fairyhouse with Eoin (McCarthy, trainer) and Richard Downs (agent) to buy Ballinoe Blaze, and he cost €15,000.

How did the partnership with Eoin come about?

Eoin is local and he had a good track record. He’s honest and he’s a gentleman. It’s not easy to compete when you have a small budget. It’s hard to get a horse to the track, never mind a win.

From his form, it looks like you’ve had to be fairly patient with him?

We have been patient. We thought he might come good on a couple of days but that didn’t happen. We found out also that he needs the ground good to yielding, as he pulled up on heavy ground. He was a 0-100 the last day which is okay for him now. You’d like to have a horse competing at a better level but that’s where we’re at.

Were you confident with your chances at Killarney?

I’m the kind of person that wouldn’t be over confident, but Eoin was very confident. You never know do you? I backed Fast Felix, Eoin’s first winner on the day, and I put a few pound on Ballinoe Blaze so I made a nice few pound.

I enjoy racing and meeting people at the races. You make great friends at the races, just sitting down talking to people. It was a beautiful day, and very enjoyable. It’s a bit of a pastime and we like racing.

The prize money was good, we thought, and it’ll put money in the kitty for us. It spares us a few pound for a few months.

What did you think of how the race panned out?

He was up with the pace, and I think that Gary Noonan gave him a great ride. He ran a very good race and he was tipped in all of the papers. The obvious place to go now which is our local track but conditions would have to be right, and the going would have to be right. We’d have to find a two and a half mile race to be competitive in.

Have there been any obstacles along the way?

When you have three nephews, you need value. You have to shop on the lower end of the market. We didn’t have any major obstacles once we’d found our trainer and gotten through Horse Racing Ireland. I just wanted my nephews with me so that we could have fun, and have an excuse to go racing. It’s brought us closer, that was part of it. It’s no fun on your own. My wife is involved with me, but you still need a few more to enjoy it.