THIS weekend sees the latest running of the John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase, the race being named in honour of a man whose popularity was widespread and whose early death, shortly before his 32nd birthday, robbed the racing world of an immense talent.

A straw poll of racing people would probably show that the majority of people would associate John with Istabraq. On the verge of setting up a training yard, John was due to take delivery of Istabraq, a horse whose talent he had spotted while working with John Gosden. A diagnosis of leukaemia meant that the plan to start training was put on hold while he endured treatment and Istabraq moved instead to Aidan O’Brien.