How did you get interested in racing?

I grew up next door to a bookies office in Kilcormack in Offaly. My school teacher used to bring me in there. I should mention that it was with the approval of my parents! It never did any damage, I think it just sharpened me up. The other man who is involved with Panda Boy is Pat McBennett. While I was in the bookies at a very young age, he used to be riding work for Toss Taaffe. So that is how we got the interest in racing.

Tell us how the Old Pal’s Partnership started and how Panda Boy came about.

We got to know each other many years ago in our adopted county of Kildare. We both moved into Sallins. Pat himself had a very good horse, who had Panda Boy’s colours as well, called Doubleuagain that won at Cheltenham in the early 1980s. That horse ran in the Grand National as well. Andy Geraghty trained that horse and he is the man who sourced Panda Boy for us.

I was sitting beside Andy one day at the races and told him that myself and Pat were thinking of buying a horse together as two old pals, hence the Old Pals Partnership. Andy and the two of us headed over to Tattersalls and Andy picked out a few. Panda Boy was the one we ended up going for. He had a bit of an unknown sire, but Andy reckoned the horse had a good bloodline for National Hunt.

Being a racing fan for quite some time, it must be quite a special feeling to have a runner in the Aintree Grand National?

It is brilliant, yeah. It’s been, quite rightly, described as the greatest race in the world for National Hunt fans. It is a fantastic thrill. We are absolutely over the moon to be lining up.

How did the name Panda Boy come about?

Pat came up with that one. He came up with the idea that Panda is a mixture of Pat and Enda. There is Andy in the middle as well so that suited him.

Tell us a bit more about what Panda Boy is like at home?

He is a versatile horse. He has a fantastic temperament. He doesn’t require a huge amount of pushing and work. He is a natural athlete who always wants to do his job. He loves racing. Going around the parade ring, he’s always on his toes. Some people looking in might say that he is getting over-anxious, but that is not the case. It is his enthusiasm to get going and get racing. He has a superb pair of lungs. Even after the Irish National last year, there wasn’t a whisper out of him.

Panda Boy ran well in the Irish National last year, which is often a good indicator for the following year’s Aintree National. You must have been very happy with that run?

We were very happy. The heavens opened up that week and the ground was very dead and heavy. Panda Boy was quite inexperienced at that stage, he ran very well in those conditions and wasn’t beaten that far by I Am Maximus in the end. He was not as strong a horse then as he is now. Martin (Brassil) has said numerous times that he has matured brilliantly this year and strengthened up very well.

Will the ground be any concern on Saturday?

I think he will get through it. We would prefer to have better ground, but he has shown he can handle soft ground and the fact that he has matured so well, we are hoping that it all balances out.

You seem to have a certain level of confidence that this horse can run a big race on Saturday, is that fair to say?

We know he is a genuine horse who loves to race. He is also quite lightly raced. He will run a good race and give it his best.

Tell us a bit about Martin Brassil and the relationship that you have built up with him.

Martin is an absolute gentleman, as is his son, David, and Panda Boy’s work rider, Paul. Martin is very patient with a horse. Our horse won first time out but, even still, Martin was smart enough to take his time with him and give him the time to mature.

He just knows how to handle horses. Martin could have pushed Panda Boy at a younger age, but had he done that we might not be where we are today. His facilities are excellent and his location at the Curragh is a huge help. Myself and Pat would undoubtedly endorse Martin Brassil and his team.

What is one bit of advice you would give to someone who is looking to get involved in ownership?

Sourcing the horse is very important.You need someone who has loads of experience in that area. I remember sitting beside Andy at Tatts, and the research that he had done was incredible. You need an expert to pick out your horse. It is a fantastic experience going through the different levels of owning a racehorse though.

There is enjoyment firstly in just going to the races. Then it shifts up a level when you have a horse who can compete. Finally, it shifts up another level when you have a horse who can compete in bigger races.