How did your partnership with Anne come about?

We’ve been life-long friends. We went to school together and we grew up together. We always liked racing and we’d go to Cheltenham and say we’d love to own something. We had a share in another horse a few years ago. He won a race at Fairyhouse and a couple of point-to-points, and that’s when we got the bug to get a horse of our own between us.

That horse was with Dermot (McLoughlin, trainer), so I told him to let me know if anything comes up that’s not crazy money. He said he had one for sale that he thought would win a race, so that’s how we got Finny, and he was right! Five times! My father trained greyhounds, and I trained with him for a while too, I just always loved the racing. There’s something special about National Hunt racing.

Dermot has been brilliant, and his staff down at the yard really look after him well. Whenever we go down to visit him, the yard is immaculate. The yard man Shane thinks Finny is great, he’s a good lad.

He has a wee soft spot for Finny, so we appreciate that too. Dermot is away on holidays at the minute, so I’m delighted for him.

Were you confident going into last Saturday’s run?

Dermot had been telling us that he was in great form, and he thought he’d really run well. That puts the pressure on even more.

On his previous win, he jumped out and away he went like a mad chap, we never thought he’d keep that pace up, but he went and won by 11 lengths. We’re having a great time with him.

It’s a great day out, but we’re so nervous we don’t really enjoy the whole day that he’s racing, but whenever it’s over, win, lose or draw, we really enjoy it then. It’s a big relief when he’s home safe. Last Saturday was the worst day we ever had nerves-wise.

I’m not too bad, but Anne doesn’t like to watch him going over the jumps. I have to report back to her once he gets over them. It’s all very exciting, but it’s a good relief when it’s over too. He’ll be getting his usual supply of carrots the next day we’re down at Dermot’s yard.

It must be great to share those moments with such a close friend.

It’s absolutely brilliant. There’s a group we go to Cheltenham with every year and a few of them were there last Saturday as well. It was great for all of our friends to be there. He’s won in Wexford and Gowran Park, and myself and Anne will go there, but our friends are all local to us, so they came to Downpatrick.

When you have success, it’s good to share it with other people. They’re a good bunch and they get as big a thrill out of it as we do. They’re like an honourary syndicate.

What is Finnians Row like when he’s back at the yard?

He’s a bit of a character, you couldn’t haul the carrots into him quick enough! He doesn’t like when you go next door to give any to his neighbours either, he likes to get them all.

He’s earned them all though! A few races ago, we thought someone would need to stand at the line with a bucket of carrots and he might go a bit quicker.

Have you got a plan for where he’ll go next?

He likes the good ground, so hopefully we can get another race for him next month. He runs better fresh, but he’s up in the weights now, so we’ll have to hope for the best. We’ve had two wins this year now, so we can’t complain. Anything else would be a bonus.

He’ll get a rest when the weather changes again. He’s turned inside out in his last few races, which is unbelievable at 10 years old. If we’d got two consecutive places, we’d have been over the moon, winning is a huge bonus.

Could you pick out a highlight?

Last Saturday is as good as it gets. We were on holidays the first day he won, and we couldn’t believe it. We nearly thought he’d never win at that point, but Dermot always had faith in him. The hospitality that Downpatrick put on is first class.

The food is good and we get champagne after the race and a framed photo to take home. They really put on a good effort and we appreciate it all. It was just a super day.

I rarely get to speak to female owners in this column, do you think racing is going the right way with getting more women involved?

Sheila Mangan had a winner with Joya Del Mar, also trained by Dermot, on the same day. She owned Freewheelin’ Dylan, who won the Irish Grand National. She’s great with horses.

I think us women just have to step up to the plate and get out there. I do think things are going the right way, but we’re not in a position to complain.