I farm: “Horses and cattle on a 110 acre holding in Clonmel, Co. Tipperary. We keep about 40 continental cattle that we use for the hotel. Guests staying at the hotel like to know where the meat is coming from.”

This week: It’s quiet enough on the farm at the minute. The year old horses are waiting to get back out to grass but we’ll keep them in for another month because the ground is just too wet. We’ve only one mare to foal at the moment so it’s not too busy."

Breeding: “We tend to buy in eight to 10 foals every year. We keep them on until three to four years, break them, and train them, and hopefully make a bit to cover the costs.”

Racing: We’re training 10 horses at the minute. James Carroll rides the point to pointers. So far we’ve had five winners. Minella for Value won in Gowran Park back in October. Minellaforu will be running in Cheltenham so hopefully will get on well. We also have a couple of horses running in the point to point next week down in Horse and jockey, so we’re making the final preparations to the horses. ”

Family: "Wife Bernadine and son Jack (9). Jack loves the horses. He’s always out on the farm looking after the horses and cattle. Bernadine looks after the running of the hotel. I’ve been involved with the horses all my life. My mother was reared on a big horse farm in Waterford and my father would have kept horses as well as a few greyhounds growing up."

Hotel: "Business is going well. Anyone staying in the hotel is always welcome to follow me around on the farm to see the horses or find out a bit about farming. All the horses are named after the hotel in some way, so when people even in England hear Minella they always think of the hotel. It’s great advertising.”

Quotable Quote: “It’s hard to find a winner but when you do it makes you remember why you’re in the game. Breed proper stock and be patient, then with a bit of luck things should work out.”