I HAD ridden winners around Galway as a jockey, so it was great to get my first training success at Ballybrit, when Whatsafellatodo won the novice hurdle at last Tuesdays meeting.

It is always that bit extra special to win a race at your local track and in my case I am hoping it’s just the first of many.

Our family didn’t have a particularly strong racing background, we were all interested in hunting growing up.

My brothers Alain and Paul went hunting with me regularly and it really just grew from there. I want on to study at RACE, spending time with Grand National-winning trainer Martin Brassil, as part of my placement.

He actually had his Aintree and Fairyhouse hero Numbersixvalverde in the yard at the time but he was only a young horse back then.

After leaving RACE, I came home and rode out for Paul Gilligan and Gerry Lynch, before spending two years with Willie Mullins.

I held an amateur licence at the time but went to the champion trainer for the experience than anything else. However, I was fortunate enough to get a couple of rides on the track as well during my time in the yard.

After riding a winner for Charlie Swan as a 7lb conditional, he offered me the chance to ride out once a week and my career got going from there.

Swan provided me with my biggest success when Make A Track won the Grade B Tim Duggan Memorial Handicap Chase at Limerick.

I also rode out for Denis Hogan and built up a great relationship with Lukes Benefit, on whom I was successful on five occasions.

Aside from Willie Mullins, I also spent two years with Paul Nolan, before returning to Galway and renting a few boxes from Gerry Lynch.

I continued to race-ride and train a few point-to-point horses on the side but eventually took the decision to retire and concentrate on the latter.

I just found that picking out rides was getting harder and harder and I was travelling all over the country for maybe one or two rides a week.

I had already sent out a couple of winners between the flags so devoted my full attention to training after hanging up my boots.

Once it got busier and I had enough horses, I went and did the trainers’ course and applied for my licence.

After a couple of placed horses that first year [2016], I had my first track winner with Nellie Pledge at Sligo in August 2017. The race was significant as not only was I registering my first career success as a handler but young Liam Gilligan who partnered the mare was also gaining his first win in the saddle.

I was thrilled to give Liam that initial winner, as I have been friends with his dad, Paul, for many years.

Joseph Daniels bred Whatsafellatodo and ran him in his point-to-point. One day he just rang me up and asked would I be interested in taking the horse for his track career.

I was delighted to get the opportunity as he always promised to make a nice horse and I loved him from the outset. After showing plenty of potential in his first three starts, he won his first race at the Listowel Festival last month.

I didn’t have Galway in mind after that run but the race just came at the ideal time for the horse. He showed great bravery and battling qualities to come up that famous hill in front. I haven’t really thought beyond that last run, so will give him a bit of time before deciding where to go next.

He is still only a five-year-old so has time on his side and will remain over hurdles for now at least.

We have 10 horses in at the moment; a mixture of point-to-pointers, National Hunt and flat horses. I have room for more and like any trainer, will always find the space for a nice one.

We have a four-furlong gallop, horsewalker, lunging ring and sand arena on-site, and we only have a short journey to Martin Cullinane’s to school the horses. I am very grateful to the latter for allowing me to use his facilities as they are second to none.

Andrew Flaherty rides out here at the yard and is a huge help. My brother Paul comes down to ride out whenever he can, while Christopher and Richard are also important members of the set-up.

Brian Cawley was in conversation with John O’Riordan