Jockey Paddy Brennan: ‘A competitive sport turns you into a bit of a b****x, there’s no doubt about that’

I loved hurling growing up in Ardrahan and did some county trials with Galway, but you had to be so good to make it. I wasn’t from a horsey background and I actually started off with a donkey.

That led to a neighbour, Lady Agnew was her name. She spotted something that said it might be worth sending me to Gerry Stack on the Curragh. I said I’d love to try it, and once I sat on a racehorse, I never wanted to do anything else.

What is your favourite race track and why?

Cheltenham. It’s the people, it’s a place you would normally only find in Ireland but it happens to be in England. It’s home from home.

Who is your favourite horse and why?

Cue Card was probably my favourite horse, just because he could do different things on different tracks. Imperial Commander obviously won the Gold Cup, but Cue Card became a people’s horse. He was a bit special.

What is your favourite Cheltenham Festival memory?

Definitely winning the 2010 Gold Cup on Imperial Commander was the best. I know I broke the hearts of a lot of Kauto Star fans that day but I didn’t break my own thankfully.

It’s a life-changing thing to win a Gold Cup because you’re always remembered as a Gold Cup winner from then on but winning any race at the Festival is unbelievable.

What’s your favourite Festival race?

It has to be the Gold Cup. I’ve been lucky enough to ride in it a few times, and a bit like the King George, there’s no let-up. It’s just three miles-plus at a really high tempo and there’s no slowing up, you have to be on the money the whole way. It’s powerful stuff.

Today's Sport News in 90 Seconds - 12th March

Who’s your sporting hero?

You couldn’t look any further than Tony McCoy. He was my hero. He used to make the hair stand up on the back of my neck. From a simple race on a Monday at Plumpton to a Saturday at Cheltenham, he was different class.

It was unreal to ride against him, but there was nothing nice about when he landed beside you at the back of the last fence or hurdle, you knew you were in trouble then. He had this aura.

The crowd got louder, and when you saw him coming, you knew you were toast. He could get horses to win that no one else in the world could.

Name an opponent or rival you especially admire and why

Richard Johnson. The more I think about my career, he was just the ultra-professional and an absolute gentleman. He was so helpful to so many jockeys throughout his career.

What’s your racing ambition? Do you have one?

My ambition has always been to walk away in one piece at the end of every season throughout my career. Winning the Gold Cup was unbelievable, but I never really had it in my head to go for champion jockey over here, I just couldn’t do the travelling. If I had a last ambition, it would be to win the Aintree Grand National, but I ain’t going to win it by watching it. I need to get a ride in it!

Name your dream racing trio (jockey/trainer/owner).

Ruby Walsh, my boss Fergal O’Brien would have to be the trainer and JP McManus as owner.

If you could change something about racing, what would it be?

Social media. It’s horrific. I can’t get my head around how people are allowed to type what they want. It’s just wrong that anyone should have to tolerate that, a lad would get a slap if it happened at school.

I’ve got kids growing up and it worries me that they’ll be able to Google my name and see the abuse I’ve received. I can take it, but they shouldn’t have to. There will be something done about it one day, but they’re running free at the moment.

If you could be associated with one horse in training, who would it be and why?

Dysart Enos, I’ve never put the full squeeze on her yet. There’s a bit more left in the locker and she’s not just winning, she’s winning with authority so I’m really excited about her.

If you could relive one racing occasion, what would it be and why?

The Gold Cup in 2016 with Cue Card still haunts me. He fell three from home, and for people that wonder whether he would have won, he’d have won with his mouth open.

There’s no way to Sainbury’s in Cheltenham, where I live, without going past the racecourse and every time I go by, I remember it.

One horse that you think could be a future superstar?

Fergal O’Brien has a lovely horse called Tripoli Flyer. He won a bumper last time out at Lingfield, he has a lot of talent and could be very good.

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? Doesn’t have to be about racing

Not to be so angry, although I have calmed down with age. A competitive sport turns you into a bit of a b****x, there’s no doubt about that.

You have to be the most selfish person that’s ever walked out the front door of your house because you’re under constant pressure. You’re probably feeling like a failure for 90pc of every day and that’s the pressure you’re under because every jockey loses a lot more races than they win.

I’ve been doing it for 25 years and felt like a loser for 90pc of that time. It’s mentally draining, but thankfully, I’ve calmed down a bit and that makes it easier.

What’s your most treasured possession (racing or otherwise)?

My three kids (Jack, Oliver and Chloe).

Who’s your favourite jockey of all time and why?

Ruby Walsh and Tony McCoy, one is Messi and the other is Ronaldo. I’ll cherish forever that I rode with the pair of them, they were just magic.

Who would your three dream dinner guests be? What venue would you choose?

Tiger Woods, Dakota Johnson and Ronaldo, that’d be a savage dinner. I’d even pay the bill and it wouldn’t be cheap. We’d have it in Moran’s Oyster Cottage back in Galway (Clarinbridge), the best fish restaurant in the world.

What’s your idea of perfect happiness?

Living in the moment.