‘You can never have enough patience in this game . . . it’s a definite chink in my armour’

Growing up in a town like Youghal with a greyhound track probably sowed the seeds for my love of having a flutter. Very soon, I was helping bookies and then graduated to clerking for them at weekends when I was as young as 14. From that point on, I always wanted to be a bookie.

​What is your favourite race track and why?

I never, ever mind losing if there is no hard luck story, and for that reason, my favourite racecourse is Naas over the jumps, as it’s nigh on a certainty that the best horse will always win there. Navan is another track that you could say similar, but there are tracks where luck plays too much of a part.

​Who is your favourite horse and why?

My favourite horse is El Gran Senor, which won what must have been the best English 2,000 Guineas ever run at Newmarket in 1984. What a super horse he was and a beautiful looker to go with it. I was devastated when he was bobbed out of the Epsom Derby that same year by Secreto.

​What is your favourite Cheltenham Festival memory?

It has to be Denman winning the 2008 Gold Cup against Kauto Star when the build-up to the event was off the scale and the atmosphere was something that I’ve never witnessed either before or since. It was a spine-tingling occasion and one that I’m guessing will never be replicated again at any race track.

​What’s your favourite Festival race?

It has to be the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, followed closely by the following race, the Arkle. The sight of speed novices at the minimum trips under either code really is enthralling and with the atmosphere and famous roar, a narrow vote goes to the festival opener.

​Who’s your sporting hero?

Even though I’m not a soccer fan, I must say I always had a great admiration for my fellow county man, Roy Keane. To achieve what he did as a footballer really was fantastic and I love his no-nonsense attitude as a pundit as well.

​Name an opponent or rival you especially admire and why?

As a punter, I don’t have opponents or rivals and that is a trap that people do fall into as they seem more pre-occupied with others rather than themselves. I admire longevity and you’d have to take your hat off to Barney Curley, who stayed at the top for a lifetime.

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

I always secretly would have loved to own a Cheltenham Festival winner, but with the way horses are priced nowadays, I can’t ever see myself realising that. It’s becoming less and less likely for ordinary people to realise such an ambition and that’s a pity.

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

Charles Byrnes as trainer because he’s the best man that ever trained for naming the day. Davy Russell as jockey because when it was imperative that you won, he was at his best. I’d like to have owned it myself because I’d definitely have been on it!!

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

I think there needs to be a better system to solve disputes between bookmakers and punters. Maybe an impartial gambling ombudsman or the like because right now, the punter looks totally up against it if there is any area of contention.

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

Without question, it would have to be Constitution Hill. If he was at Cheltenham this time, he would cement himself as one of the all-time greats. I have no doubt that he’s the best hurdler I’ve ever seen and it’s unfortunate that he won’t be able to prove that this week.

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

I would love to go back to making a book at the Cheltenham Festival during the Celtic Tiger era. It really was a cauldron, almost like one of those movies where Wall Street was in chaos. A fantastic time to be involved in bookmaking and unlikely to ever be seen again, unfortunately.

​One horse that you think could be a future superstar?

I suppose the obvious one right now is Ballyburn, which looks to have all the tools required to be a top racehorse. Speed and stamina plus the physique to be a chaser in the future. Outside of Constitution Hill, he’s the hottest property in racing right now.

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

You can never have enough patience in this game and sometimes I can fall into the trap of doing things that, if I really thought about it, maybe it would have been more prudent to show that bit more caution. I’m not a regular offender, but it is a definite chink in my armour.

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

When all is said and done, your family and friends are the most important things in life. Having an understanding wife and healthy kids is so much more vital than backing winners and it’s imperative that you allot as much time as possible to them.

​Who’s your favourite jockey of all time? Why?

I’d have to say Pat Eddery, as when I was really taking an interest in racing, he was the stable jockey at Vincent O’Brien’s and really was a master of his craft. He had a unique bouncing style, but I always felt he gave you 100pc.

​Who would your three dream dinner guests be? (Doesn’t have to be racing) What venue would you choose?

I’d go for Roy Keane, Mark Prescott and Phil Collins and the venue would be one of the restaurants in the Connaught Hotel in London. I always try to go there when I’m over and it is just absolute class and a real treat.

​What’s your idea of perfect happiness?

Perfect happiness is a family holiday in the sun, a villa with our own pool and an absolute must is good Wi-Fi. I just love floating around all day in a top with shorts and sandals, that’s heaven to me.

In conversation with Michael Verney