I, MORE than most, appreciate how fragile life can be and having literally come back from the dead, following a fall at Perth three years ago, am determined to make the most of what lies ahead. Having recently aborted a short-lived return to the saddle, I moved home to Ireland last month where I hope to forge a new career within the racing industry.

Horses have been part of my life for as long as I can remember; my father bought me a pony when I was very young and I was hooked from the beginning. My family are distant relatives of the McNamaras and Robbie and I competed against each other in hunter trials throughout our school days. Robbie had a very good pony named Lucky Linda, who won all the competitions around Ireland, and when he grew too big for her, we bought her and I continued that run of success, taking every prize in the country.