IT is extremely rare for a horse bred in Co Donegal to win at one of the major Festival meetings so the Charles family from Donegal Town are right to be proud of Maple Mons who landed the BoyleSports Joseph R. O’Reilly Hunters Chase at Fairyhouse on Tuesday.

This was a third racecourse success for the nine-year-old Great Exhibition mare but the first under Barry O’Neill who has partnered the chesnut to eight of her 12 victories in point-to-points, most recently as last Saturday when they landed the mares’ open at Loughanmore.

Unfortunately, breeder Ray Charles was unable to attend the East Antrim Hounds’ meeting but he and his wife Deirdre were at Fairyhouse to see the mare score by 12 lengths.

“That was as sweet a performance as she has ever given,” said Ray. “The open, galloping track really suited her and Barry gave her a super ride.”

Charles still has Maple Mons’ dam, the 1996 Great Commotion mare Radeda, who is carrying to the Irish National Stud’s Elusive Pimpernel and is due to foal early next month. Maple Mons is set to retire to the paddocks this year but no decision has yet been made as to who she will visit. And, there is first the matter of Punchestown and the Champion Hunters’ Chase.

“We’re not a family who have a tradition of being involved in racing and breeding and this is something we just got into as a hobby, to have an interest. Maple Mons and her dam are the only horses we own. Having a horse as good as Maple Mons is a dream you dream about without ever thinking it will come to fruition and I have to take my hat off to David Christie who has done a wonderful job training her.

“David has put his heart and his soul into the mare and I’m thrilled for him that she won so impressively on Tuesday,” continued Charles. “Hopefully, he will now get some other owners into the yard as he really deserves it.” For his part, Christie commented: “I’m chuffed to bits with her!”