THIS has been a momentous year for Co Waterford-based Kieran D. Cotter, the highlight undoubtedly being his success as the breeder of Randox Grand National winner Nick Rockett (Walk In The Park), and last week, in five days, he had three doubles as such.

Last Wednesday, it started off modestly enough when trainer Tom Gretton recorded a chase double with two Cotter-breds, Reforme (Diamond Boy) and Fancy Stuff (Presenting) an hour apart.

Twenty-four hours later and it was a long-distance double when the Ross O’Sullivan-trained Found A Diamond (Diamond Boy) justified favouritism in a maiden hurdle at Thurles, while earlier that day Sea Thrift (Bullet Train) obliged over hurdles at Stratford.

Fast-forward to Sunday at Carlisle and the fifth Cotter-bred winner of the five days was Sound And Fury (Milan), and he recorded the sixth win of his career in a £35,000 handicap chase. He won a point-to-point before joining Ben Pauling, and has added two hurdle wins and three chase victories to his tally of successes.

Win number three

Sound Of Fury’s win came in the penultimate race on the Carlisle card, and then the last was won by Rula Bula (Mount Nelson). This was win number three for the mare, bought by Cotter as a short yearling for €6,000 at Tattersalls Ireland, and sold on at the Derby Sale from his Woodhouse Stud to Jonjo O’Neill for a profitable €32,000.

Cotter is a man who enjoys the successes of stock that he breeds, following them closely, and of the horses he pinhooks. After this winning spree, he said: “As a breeder, I have been fortunate enough to have plenty of good horses. In a relatively short space of time, I bred over 30 individual winners of almost 100 races, 10 blacktype performers, and have passed another 15 winners through my hands.

“This year’s Grand National winner, Nick Rockett, is an obvious one, but other blacktype horses include World of Fortunes (Soldier Of Fortune), Helnwein (Walk In The Park), Grade 3 chase winner Uncle Phil (Walk In The Park), Grade 1 runner-up Paloma Blue (Stowaway), Tintern Theatre (King’s Theatre), Bowtogreatness (Westerner) and others.”