'He wasn't afraid to break the mould - that's what set him apart'

I was pretty much up at grandad’s yard from as long as I can remember. From mucking out in school holidays and Saturday mornings to eventually being allowed to ride out – there was certainly no special treatment for me.

We then had a lot of fun in the amateur rider races but it was the 15 years I was assistant to him that I learned most. I did everything from box driving to riding out.

Grandad wasn’t afraid to break the mould and I think that’s what set him apart. For example, when the other trainers in our area had runners at Ayr they’d go up overnight whereas grandad would get up and go really early, which was unheard of back then but he wasn’t afraid to try something new if he thought it would suit his horse.