I MUST confess that I am not a great fan of WhatsApp groups, especially when they have large numbers. Sometimes the banter can be tiring.

Not so in the case of the latest one I am a member of, the Drogheda Dave group. There are about 50 participants: the members of the club, some of the team at trainer Henry de Bromhead’s, Mick and Sarah Murphy at Longways who broke and brought Drogheda Dave on – and now me! My usual aversion to such groups doesn’t apply to this one – it is brimming with anticipation and hope and dreams.

“Exciting, isn’t it?” was a recent message from Paul Boyle, the club’s driving force and coordinator, when I checked in following an update this week from Henry de Bromhead. Many, if not most, of the members of this racing club have had no involvement with racing before – they are connected by a love for their friend after whom the horse and club is named.

If you are new to this story, a short synopsis. In January I introduced a new column, designed to follow the setting up of a new racing club in honour of David Clerkin, known to his family and friends as ‘Drogheda Dave’. I was made aware of the group by my friend Andy Moloney and the idea was to capture some of the energy and enthusiasm abounding in this group who were brought closer as a result of a great sadness.

A fan of football – especially Drogheda United - and racing, Dave attended every Cheltenham Festival since 2010 until his untimely death following a tragic accident in Copenhagen in November 2018. He was well-known at Irish tracks too. Last year the club members commissioned Gerry Hogan to purchase a yearling, now known as Drogheda Dave.

The two-year-old son of Pearl Secret was bought at Goffs and then headed to Mick Murphy’s Longways to receive his early education. A month ago he travelled down the road to Henry de Bromhead at Knockeen. While it is very early days yet, Henry is pleased with Drogheda Dave and he shared a video this week of the youngster on the gallops.

“He’s settled in really well,” he told the members as they watched Dylan Robinson in the saddle give the colt a warm-up canter.

“He’s very mentally immature but improving all the time, and probably physically immature as well.” Speaking with Paul earlier, Henry described him as big and gangly, like a teenager, but he is a great one for his food and Henry hopes he will strengthen over the coming months.

Dylan rides him every day and as part of his education he is sent out with an older horse either side of him to help toughen him up, and learn about the hurly-burly of being in a group of horses. He still has a road to travel, but hopes are that, with no hitches, he could maybe see a racecourse in August or September. It is still too early to tell, and patience is a quality all racehorse owners come to appreciate. Nonetheless, a lot of fingers are crossed.