'I had time for 10 fags during the race'

DES McDONOGH, himself an Irish Cheltenham hero with Monksfield in the Champion Hurdles of 1978 and 1979, is well aware of how fickle horse racing can be.

Now “tipping away” from his base at Moynalty in Co Meath, McDonogh has never hit those dizzy heights again and, in truth, doesn’t reckon he’s going to at this stage.

“Look,” he says patiently, “you’ve got to realise in this game that you’re lucky to even get one good horse. Getting them on a regular basis is something you never even contemplate.”