Brendan Carr

Before 1974, Brendan Carr, from Dublin City, had never at on a horse: however, through the Racing Apprentice Centre of Education (R.A.C.E.) he became, that year, apprenticed to Mick O'Toole.

It took Brendan about twenty rides before landing his first winner, Duckery at Naas in the 1976 Mylerstown Hurdle.

Hoping to gain more experience, Brendan left for England in 1979 to join Fred Winter's yard, but - because he was still apprenticed to O'Toole - he was unable to gain racecourse experience so moved on to trainer Peer Makin at Marlborough. He here stayed for six months, managing to ride a couple of winners.

Then it was back to Ireland where he joined a new trainer, Jim Bolger, who himself was just starting out on the heady rode to the top.

A win on Pigeons Nest and two more on Tumble Royale augured well for Brendan's future, then - tragedy.

He was forced out of the saddle early on in his career after taking a horrible fall which damaged his pelvis.

Brendan is now a Dublin City taxi driver.