JOHN Nallen and the Hotel Minella team in Clonmel had a good Christmas. On December 21st they hosted a surprise party for John’s nephew Sean Bowen, the 2024 champion apprentice in Britain.

John reported: “We never got around to celebrating Sean’s achievement last year – he’s hardly spent three nights at home since he moved to England. A lot of locals and Sean’s school friends turned up for the party and we had a great night.”

The party also allowed John and his training assistants Conor Bowen and Corky Carroll to reflect on the success they had with Minella Academy and Minella Yoga in recent weeks. Both horses won academy hurdles first time out before being sold for fortunes to Willie Mullins and Paul Nicholls respectively.

To top it off, Minella Yoga (£360,000) made a winning debut for Nicholls at Newbury on December 29th and is being talked about as a Cheltenham prospect.

THE annual Mark O’Hanlon Racing Quiz takes place in The Lord Bagenal Hotel in Leighlinbridge, Co Carlow on Friday night, January 16th. The quiz has been brought forward this year to coincide with the ITM Irish Stallion Trail.