I SPENT my whole working life in racing. I have met some wonderful, inspirational people along the way and enjoyed some fantastic times. I’ve got a son working in Simon Crisford’s and two gorgeous granddaughters. So I decided to give a little back. Last year my wife and I headed to Tanzania to work as volunteers in a kids’ home.

I grew up in Rosses Point, Co Sligo, an area not synonymous with horse racing. However, one man, Billy Boyers, was a legend in the locality and achieved great success with a small string. He enjoyed big wins win horses such as Sir Barry (Galway Plate), Artistic Prince (Powers Gold Cup) and Kilcoleman (County Hurdle). I was introduced to racing by Billy and led up the latter horse when he won at the 1977 Cheltenham Festival. I started out with the trainer aged 15 and came and went at various intervals over a 12-year period.