When I put it to John Patrick Ryan that his horses have a reputation for being hardy frontrunners that are notoriously difficult to get past, he replied, with only a hint of humour: “They are probably taking after me, so. Because, in life, as in sport, I play hard but fair and I wouldn’t give an inch to anyone.

“In anything, hurling or any equestrian sport, never looked for an inch and never gave an inch. I played a bit of hurling as a youngster but I didn’t have much time for it as I got older. Look, racing is a tough, hard business, so you have to be tough.”