'It was only at the Lincoln meeting that I really started to believe in myself'

Before meeting Adam McNamara in between rides at Wolverhampton, Richard Hale, agent to the season's apprentice sensation, offers a word of warning followed by words of praise.

The warning comes first as Hale suggests McNamara, whose fame was confirmed when he ran away with the Betfred Ebor, may not say a lot but what he does say will be worth hearing.

"Adam wouldn't be one to waste words," says Hale. "He thinks about what he's saying and isn't full of blarney."