On the career change after 25 years: I've always believed strongly in diversification and change, a little bit of calculated risk taking.

Success at work: I think the key is to be seen as a key player and that goes right down to customer level, to be prepared to muck in.

Negotiating a decision: The world is full of compromise. Progress is usually as a result of compromise of some kind.

Leopardstown's objective: Our challenge is to bring new people through the gates, to make them welcome and to educate them how to bet and how to feel part of that grand occasion.

The city racecourse: We are the only racecourse in Dublin with half a million people on our doorstep. There should be no excuse why we should not succeed.

The racecourse's facilities: You need to be able to purchase a drink or a sandwich or a cup of coffee or a gourmet meal if you feel like it.

The competition: Within the leisure business we have to fight for our support from within the whole population and we are competing with all the other various sports, particularly the GAA.