For any jockey, winning the Derby is the ultimate. I felt immensely proud, not just for myself, but also for my wife and daughter, but it is not something that I dwell on.
Benny The Dip gave me my greatest moment in racing when he won the G1 Derby at Epsom in 1997.
It was a thrilling finish, and he just managed to hold off Silver Patriarch, who was closing fast for Pat Eddery in the last 50 yards.
For any jockey, winning the Derby is the ultimate. I felt immensely proud, not just for myself, but also for my wife and daughter, but it is not something that I dwell on.
Every year the Derby comes around, I happily recall Benny The Dip's big win. The memories are great. Nobody can ever take them away from you. But that's where it ends.
These days, I feel the Derby has been restored to its rightful place in racing. The build-up is much better, with Breakfast With The Stars at Epsom being a very effective way to publicise the race and get people to take an interest.
I gave up race-riding in 2004. I have been riding out for Godolphin for the past two years, and before that I spent a year with the jumpers trained by John Ferguson at Bloomfields, which I really enjoyed.
After I quit as a professional jockey, I messed around doing a few different things. But you soon realise you need a purpose. I am a rider and I love riding horses, so it was probably inevitable that I would return to riding - albeit just in the mornings - at some stage.
It feels great to be riding out regularly, and particularly good to be riding good horses again. I spent 20 years riding for Sir Henry Cecil, and during that time, I had the opportunity to ride my share of good ones.
There was great camaraderie at Henry's, and it's very similar at Godolphin. I very much enjoy being part of a team. At Godolphin, the focus is constantly on moving forward, everybody gets along, and I feel there is genuine appreciation for your input.
This year's Derby is wide open, but I believe Godolphin have a very good chance of winning it. I rode Foresee in the gallop with Cloth Of Stars at Epsom last week.
Mickael Barzalona rode Cloth Of Stars, and he was happy with him. I believe Mickael is very hopeful.
With the likelihood of a big field, the draw will also play a part.
Encouraging news is that Foresee won his maiden at Maisons-Laffitte on Monday (May 30). I am hoping that's a good omen.
Willie Ryan, a former joint-champion apprentice, won the 1997 G1 Derby on the John Gosden-trained Benny The Dip with a text-book, front-running ride, acclaimed as one of the finest seen in an Epsom Classic. He comes from a family steeped in racing and has been a prominent Newmarket figure for three decades.
