AMATEUR riders Finny Maguire, Ben Harvey, Harry Swan and Finn Buckley ran away with the recent Pat Smullen Golf Classic in aid of the Drogheda Memorial Fund at Killeen Castle in Dunsany, Co Meath.

A total of 28 teams took part in the annual event, which raises funds for “the permanent and temporary relief of former trainers and jockeys when in necessitous circumstances”.

Ben seemed a little embarrassed to tell us the qualified riders’ team won “on the bridle” and we await the handicappers’ reaction.

“Derek O’Connor put a message into the QR WhatsApp group to say we needed a team to take part and Harry said we’ll take it,” Ben reported. “We play together a good bit. Harry is very good, he plays off 12.

“Finn plays off nine, and I suppose you could say that Finny and I are well-handicapped! The format of the competition suited us. You all tee-off, but you only play the best drive. It was my first time playing Killeen Castle, even though it’s only 20 minutes from me, and it’s a beautiful course.”

Asked to name any other eye-catchers on the fairways, Ben said: “The Jockeys Association had a good team of Andrew Coonan, Ricky Doyle, Keith Donoghue and Kieran Buckley. Kieran plays off a handicap of one stroke.”

Francis Crowley presented the prizes and her son Paddy Smullen played in the competition for the first time. The same venue has already been booked by Marianne Waters in the IHRB for next year’s event, which will take place on Monday, June 29th, a non-racing day just after the Irish Derby.