SO who was the greatest Irish sportsman in action over last weekend?

Look to the All-Ireland Final - Michael Fitzsimons? Lee Keegan deserves acknowledgement? Perhaps it was the Ryder Cup - Rory McIlroy? You might have thought that from the TV sports coverage on Sunday

Perhaps if Aidan O’Brien had stepped into the parade ring in Chantilly and bowed left right and centre, as a pumped up McIlroy did in Hazeltine on the Friday night, his feats might have warranted more coverage in Irish sports bulletins.

Of course, that’s never the nature of the man. All the praise, after training the first three home in Europe’s most prestigious race, was deflected elsewhere.

It must be as difficult to remember the names of all the lads involved with the horses never mind every horse but that is always where the first thoughts are. No ‘look at me, didn’t I do well’ fist pumps here.

To put into perspective the feat achieved in Chantilly, we should first note how many Irish trainers have landed the Arc: Vincent O’Brien three times, John Oxx twice, Seamus McGrath once and Aidan just once previously, despite all the high-class horses through his hands.

Note then that these were three four-year-old horses - a tribute to Coolmore also for keeping them in training - and each has had an ardous campaign.

Ballydoyle’s best horses have often fallen short in the big end of season contests in France and the US, but there a sense that there was always a plan with Found.

There were complaints made previously that the four big meetings, the Irish Champions weekend, Arc meeting, British Champions Day and the Breeders’ Cup were all too close together, not to mention the travelling. Horses could not do three of them. Found did all four last year. It’s rare that fillies are even asked to race against colts, especially as three-year-olds, and you feel she was identified early as one who would hold her own against colts.

She was unlucky last year, not receiving the best of rides in the Arc and British Champions Stakes, may have gone too soon in the Princess of Wales’ Stakes at Royal Ascot. You could even say Ryan Moore owed her one, but she held her form last year, ground conditions making no difference, to beat Golden Horn in America.

Some strangely questioned her resolution, but once she hit the front at Chantilly on Sunday, neck stretched out, you knew this was her day, she would not be found wanting. Postponed and Harzand may have run below form but they would have to have been at their very best to beat her.

What we have learned about Ballydoyle’s older horses, perhaps those with no huge stud reputation to boost, is that they are not always trained to win every race. They build up to the big day. Highland Reel at Royal Ascot was inferior to Highland Reel in the King George. Order Of St George stepped up hugely on his Irish St Leger run on Sunday. We know now that Found has had the Arc as her target for a long time and she steadily improved from York, Leopardstown to Chantilly.

The Galileo fillies, Minding, Alice Springs, Seventh Heaven, Found are part of the team of the year, marshalled by the Master Of Ballydoyle.

Some bookmakers are incredibly generous in their odds on Aidan breaking the Group/Grade 1 races won in a year held by Bobby Frankel. With many big two-year-old races still to come, Champions Day and the Breeders’ Cup, and 19 wins in the bag, another six doesn’t look out of reach. And that was without a top three-year-old colt.

So all tributes go the man who wants no tribute.

Taking note last Sunday of the trainers’ prize money tables in each country, it’s a phenomenal achievement to be in the top three in Ireland, Britain and France.

The good book of Ecclesiastes tells us there is a time for everything under the heavens - “a time to be silent and a time to speak”. If he prefers silence, the rest of racing will speak. If you are the Master of Ballydoyle - it’s time to take a bow.

Prize Money won in Ireland, Britain and France

(to last Monday, Oct 3rd)