BOTH sides of my family have a pedigree in breeding horses, so I suppose it was only natural that I should follow suit. My mother’s first cousins, Don and Eleanor Hadden bred Cooldine, Rare Bob and last year’s World Hurdle winner, More Of That, while John and Jo Brophy bred Luska (Galway Plate) and Royal Athlete among others. Billy Barker, another first cousin, also stood a thoroughbred stallion for many years.

Hopefully, I can add my name to that roll of honour very shortly. It would be wonderful if Black Hercules could win an Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle, although I feel his true potential will only rise to the surface when he races over fences.