“THE phone just hasn’t stopped ringing!” exclaimed a delighted Peggy Hagan as she fielded a call from this writer congratulating her on Balnaslow’s great triumph in the Champion Hunters’ Chase at Punchestown last Friday.

The popular owner cheered up many people with her remark to Andrew McNamara during RTE’s post-race interview that, these days, she only gets out to Festivals and to the doctors.

Hopefully, the medical profession have seen her less than her friends in racing as she attended the Cheltenham, Aintree and Punchestown Festivals and is already looking forward to travelling back over to England next month for the hunter chase season finale at Stratford.

Unfortunately for Peggy, who loves having her family around her for these big occasions, her party was depleted on Friday due to golf competitions and visits to Spain and France while her grandson Jamesy, who goes to nearly all point-to-points and race meetings at which they have a runner, had to attend the motorbike races in Cookstown as he was a sponsor.

“Even though Balnaslow only finished fifth, after running brilliantly, I enjoyed Cheltenham the best as it was a great family occasion,” continued Peggy. “We had a great family get-together as there were 20 of us there for three days and we booked two tables each day. One of my grandsons, who is touring South America, flew in for the races and then headed back there; it was great to see him.

“We were really thrilled with Balnaslow that day and went out for dinner that night and had a brilliant time. At one stage Jamesy said to me, ‘I don’t know what it would be like if the horse had won!’

“It was very disappointing when Balnaslow missed the break at the start in Aintree because otherwise he would have won I think. He gets claustrophobic when there are horses all around him and Derek (O’Connor) said he could feel him hanging back until he got over the first few fences. I was sorry he didn’t win that day but, taking everything into account he did well.”

Balnaslow was first trained by Colin McKeever in Loughanmore and carried the colours of Wilson Dennison to victory in a four-year-old maiden there in October 2011.

Over Easter, Peggy visited the track and met up with the Presenting gelding’s one-time owner. “Wilson just kept hugging me and hugging me and saying how proud he was of me!” related Peggy. “I kept saying he should be proud of the horse but he kept saying he was proud of me!

“A lot of strangers came up to me that day and congratulated me on the horse’s two runs but it was nothing compared to Down Royal on Monday. What a day I had with all these strangers coming over to shake my hand - I suppose people notice me because I use the scooter. I have to say we were disappointed that Chosen Dream didn’t win the hunters’ chase on Monday but, he only lost out by half an inch and he will be going to Downpatrick and over to Stratford with Balnaslow.

“Balnaslow is not easy to train you know, he has a mind of his own (a bit like his owner we think!) and I’m so pleased for Graham (McKeever) who has done a wonderful job with the horse, as has Sophie (Bell) who rides him out. Graham’s wife Katie comes to the meetings too and she, like the rest of us, nearly lost her mind at Punchestown!

“I love going to meetings with these younger people. We have great support from Gavin Higgins, who is from up Eglington way, and some of his friends. They are all very helpful and supportive and are great companions who don’t seem to mind spending time with an old fogey like me!

“No matter what happens at Stratford, I’ve had a wonderful season and my daughter Margaret says it’s the best prescription I could ever have to keep me going!”