Features

In the first of our racing Q & As, trainer Charlie Swan steps into the hotseat.

One item you never leave the house without: My Phone

If you get a day off, what do you like to do? Play a bit of golf

Favourite track: Navan, it has always been good to me and it’s a fair track

Earliest racing memory: Seeing Captain Christy win a race at Punchestown when I was really young

Best day: Winning the third Champion Hurdle with Istabraq was a pretty good one!

Worst day: I had a lot of them! When you are in training the death of a good horse is very hard

Best advice you ever got: Tell the truth and you’ll never be caught out

If you could have ridden/owned/trained any horse: Moscow Flyer, he was always a big favourite of mine

Favourite holiday destination: I like to go skiing

Who’s the person you would most like to have a pint with, and why? Rory McIlroy. I’d admire him, he’s up-and-coming and I think he would be good craic

More excited about Euro 2012, the Olympics or the GAA Championship: I love all sport so I am looking forward to all of them

Unsung hero of racing: Waterford jockey Ken Whelan

Favourite sportsperson outside of racing: Ronan O’Gara

What’s on your iPod? Ed Sheeran’s album is what I am listening to these days

Money’s no object - what’s your ideal car? Any Mercedes would do me

Horse to watch in 2012: I have a filly called Casablanca Lily. She hasn’t raced yet but she might be one to follow.