'I don't even know what day of the week it is - I'd love a day off but racing is so relentless that you can't do it'

For a jockey who never expected to make much of an impact when he came to Britain in 2011, Gavin Sheehan has carved out a remarkable career.

The 33-year-old from Cork is fewer than 100 away from reaching the notable milestone of 1,000 career winners and is comfortably established among the top tier of jump riders in Britain. He achieved his first century last season and has continued to kick on since, with November bringing his best tally of winners in a single month.

Those numbers have given Sheehan a stature within the weighing room that means he is also happy to speak out on behalf of his colleagues and say when something isn't acceptable, but he begins by reflecting on just how far he has come in his own career.