'I'm not that clever so I have to be a grafter - and my biggest fear is failure'
Rossa Ryan talks to Peter Thomas about hard work, high pressure and the fear of failure
I'm sure you've read those interviews in the grown-up newspapers, the ones where serious journalists talk to people you know you should have heard of, over a very expensive coffee and probably some biscuits as well, in the luxurious comfort of a swanky London hotel.
This isn't one of those interviews.
On the uncharted fringes of Lambourn, Rossa Ryan keeps a compact but busy house. In one corner, Adam is frying mince and explaining how his friend is an excellent dancer and gets a lot of views on TikTok – with which I have only a passing familiarity, so am unable to independently verify his claims, although I suspect he's making it up.
Read the full story
Read award-winning journalism from the best writers in racing, with exclusive news, interviews, columns, investigations, stable tours and subscriber-only emails.
Subscribe to unlock
- Racing Post digital newspaper (worth over £100 per month)
- Award-winning journalism from the best writers in racing
- Expert tips from the likes of Tom Segal and Paul Kealy
- Replays and results analysis from all UK and Irish racecourses
- Form study tools including the Pro Card and Horse Tracker
- Extensive archive of statistics covering horses, trainers, jockeys, owners, pedigree and sales data
Already a subscriber?Log in
Published on inThe Big Read
Last updated
Copy- 'He was still 100-1 at the post, so it was hopefully quite well planned' - renowned punter Patrick Veitch on a life in betting and a new venture
- 'People love having horses with Willy rather than a miserable git like me'
- 'I'm not here to tell people how to train but if you hide something from me, I'm gone, I'm done - and you won't see me again'
- 'The lads often give out to me for saying what I say - but if I didn't say what I thought I wouldn't be being true to myself'
- 'I'm not retiring just yet. It'll come to me, I'm sure, but I hate idleness - I haven't had an idle moment in 60 years'
- 'He was still 100-1 at the post, so it was hopefully quite well planned' - renowned punter Patrick Veitch on a life in betting and a new venture
- 'People love having horses with Willy rather than a miserable git like me'
- 'I'm not here to tell people how to train but if you hide something from me, I'm gone, I'm done - and you won't see me again'
- 'The lads often give out to me for saying what I say - but if I didn't say what I thought I wouldn't be being true to myself'
- 'I'm not retiring just yet. It'll come to me, I'm sure, but I hate idleness - I haven't had an idle moment in 60 years'