'We bred Carter McKay to try to take something a bit different to the sales'

Why did you decide to send Saxona to Martaline? He was the up-and-coming stallion at the time, and it was also to try and take something a bit different to the sales, instead of being one of 30 or 40 from the same sire. Buyers wanted progeny of Martaline and there were not that many being sold. We were on the right track, as we covered the mare for a fee of €4,000 and he is now standing at a fee of €15,000.

What else has Saxona produced? Saxona died of colic after foaling One For Billy, who was her only other foal. One For Billy was third in his bumper at Southwell at the end of February for Paul and Clare Rooney.

Do you remember Carter McKay as a foal? He was a nice, correct sort of foal. He made €12,000 as a foal when bought by Peter Molony. There is probably that extra bit of interest in him for the festival as he ended up being owned by Sheikh Fahad. I bred him with two good friends of mine, Lucy Lawson and Andrew McGladdery who is a vet in Newmarket.

Have you any other runners for Cheltenham? I bought Any Drama, who is entered for the Albert Bartlett for Nick Cooper, after he won his bumper at Thurles by twenty-odd lengths under Katie Walsh. It was she who recommended him. He’s won his last two races for Harry Fry and I think he'll run pretty well. It’s the way he has won his races up until now, and he remains unexposed.