Donnacha O'Brien expects to have first runner as a trainer at Dundalk in January

Donnacha O'Brien expects to have his first official runners as a fully-fledged trainer at Dundalk in January and hopes Fancy Blue can fly the flag for his new stable in 2020.

Ireland's dual champion jockey, who helped himself to 111 winners last season, announced his retirement from race-riding last month and is already training a small string of around 25 horses from David Wachman's old yard in Goolds Cross, County Tipperary.

"I have to do an interview on December 17 before I get my licence. I'll have two horses for Dundalk, but there's no races for those until early January so they'll be my first runners," O'Brien said in his Big Read interview for Sunday's Racing Post.

Donnacha, pictured with brother Joseph, expects to have his first runners in JanuaryCredit: Peter Mooney

Although she won the Listed Staffordstown Stakes at the Curragh under Aidan O'Brien's name, Fancy Blue is in the care of Donnacha and he hopes the unbeaten filly can pick where she left off in 2020.

"I got a real buzz out of Fancy Blue winning at the Curragh. I got an even bigger buzz than as if I'd ridden the winner. I was actually riding the second in the race [A New Dawn]. That was a strange, old situation. You’re never happy to see something arrive down your outside in a race but, if I could have picked one to do it, it was her," O'Brien said.

Donnacha O'Brien will not be comparing himself to older brother, Joseph, and does not expect to make such a big splash in his first season as a trainer.

Donnacha said: "I won’t have the quantity of horses Joseph has and I'm not expecting to do as well as he’s done, but I’ll do my best.

"I have about 20-25 in full work. Obviously, it's almost every trainer's intention to grow but I'll take it one year at a time and see where that gets me."

Members can read our exclusive Big Read interview with Donnacha O'Brien from 6pm on Saturday on racingpost.com