Punchestown on

I'm from Allenstown between Navan and Kells in Co Meath. I grew up there with my three older brothers and we were all involved in horses and ponies growing up. My dad bred and produced a lot of half-breds, so we broke ponies, hunted and did the usual pony club. They would have been produced and resold, and we worked hard at it. My dad still does a bit now as well. My brothers helped out in the yard and my older brother, Greg Harford, was into racing first. He was an amateur rider and he started off with Michael Cunningham and in his later years went to Noel Meade. He was a pretty successful amateur there. I used to go pointing and racing with Greg and that was how I got into racing.

Marco Botti could look towards Newmarket’s July meeting before pointing Giavellotto at the Irish St Leger, following his exploits in winning back-to-back Yorkshire Cups on the Knavesmire.

Guineas weekend at the Curragh kicks off with an eight-race card this evening and the ground is Good (Straight) and Good, Good to Firm in places (Round) following 5mm of irrigation and 0.5mm of rain overnight.