the 15-year-old ap left his home in moneyglass , county antrim , to head to the respected but strict regime of an apprentice jockey 's life at the stable of jim bolger in county kilkenny .
but the steely , dogged determination that enabled her son to not just re-write racing 's history books but tear them up and start again was already in evidence .
but in the last few weeks , since he announced his retirement , i have been more nervous .