'I've learned so much from him - and not just about being a trainer'

Mike gave me my first real opportunity when I was 19; I was his assistant for three years in Newmarket when I had not spent much time here before. There were some wonderful horses there, such as Sariska, Margot Did and Wigmore Hall.

I've learned so much from him, and not just about being a racehorse trainer, but also about trying to be good person. He gets up in the morning and stays very level through all the ups and downs and he's instilled in me to remain calm and treat the staff and people around the horses in the same respectful manner through good times and bad.

Instead of shouting and screaming, he's always polite and will just have a quiet word to point out your mistakes and I think people respond better to that. I've tried to take that on but Mike is a much cooler cat than me!