'State Man is on the rise - but Sharjah's at his most dangerous as the underdog'

There are 103 horses to be ridden out on Christmas Day at Closutton. The team get to choose to work Christmas Day or New Year's Day and most choose Christmas. Maybe to work up a hunger to eat Christmas dinner or maybe to not have to work with a hangover on January 1.

Either way, it’s a busy day that goes surprisingly quickly and smoothly before the organised chaos of Christmastime racing. Once the alarm goes on the 26th, it’s all hands on deck and foot to the floor.

The Leopardstown Christmas festival is probably my favourite festival of the year. It's top-class racing every day, with lots of exciting unknowns in maiden hurdles, beginners' chases and bumpers. The Grade 1 novices have no burst reputations yet, so the races look more exciting than they might in three months when we know everyone’s limitations.