TO the Irish racing fraternity, the warm images of red roses as they approach mid-February are not just a romantic reminder but also that Red Mills day at Gowran is looming. For 37 years the company has been one of the longest consecutive sponsors of the needed pre-Cheltenham trial on home soil.

Gowran Park and Red Mills have something else in common, namely Joe Connolly. I have been chairman of Gowran Park since 1997 and as CEO together with my brother Bill (COO) have run Red Mills since 1994.