Christmas The Walsh Way

"Most mornings I ride out at Willie Mullins's but our lads are given Christmas morning off by my Dad so we end up doing the work ourselves.

Myself, my brother Ted, Dad and my sister Katie - we're up to our eyes in mucking out, feeding and riding out from about eight in the morning to 11.45. It's the riding out that takes the time.

St Stephen's Day is a big day for us but any horse that will be running won't do much the day before. We'll be back in the yard between four and five to feed, hay and water the horses. It's like any farmer. Animals have to be fed.

I don't mind because at this stage I'm so used to it and anyway I can't stand Christmas Day. It must be the most boring day of the year. Christmas dinner can be a nightmare. The table is full, there are desserts everywhere but I have to think about Stephen's Day being just another working day. I can have a dinner but second courses are out and no drink either.

I'm quite tall for a jockey - nearly 5.11 - and I suppose my natural weight is around 11 and a half stone. I might do 10 st if I was riding a 4/6 favourite in the Irish Grand National but 10.2 is the lowest I've done this year.

Losing 2lbs might not seem much but when you haven't got it to lose it can be tough.

Once you do plenty of work, ride out six or seven horses a morning and do plenty of walking it's okay but I don't exactly indulge in fried breakfasts. I'd maybe have a sandwich for lunch and a good dinner with meat and a couple of potatoes but stopping off at McDonald's is not on.

It's better for the lads riding in England where they race every day but in Ireland we only race two or three times a week at this time of year.

The holidays are a hectic time and every day is really just like any other. On the morning of New Year's Day I'll be back at Willie's - riding out."