As part of my job, I come across hugely varied views, backgrounds and methods, but while speaking to trainers, there is one opinion that all trainers seem to share, and it won’t come as news to anyone reading; Irish prize money is not good enough.

It’s why smaller yards are forced to sell their horses in order to survive, and when they struggle to hold on to their star horses, it’s difficult for trainers to showcase their abilities. That makes it ten times harder to attract new owners who can turn down the attractive offers, for the horses to reach their full potential in that yard, and for the trainer to prove that the horse is worth holding on to, that they can provide priceless experiences better than any quick buck.