RICHARD McCormick, the veterinary surgeon from Dunboyne, Co Meath, called his old friend Ken Coogan to drop in and have his photograph taken with a yearling filly Richard had just imported from the USA. The filly traces back to Balidaress, who Richard bought and trained to win in 1976 before she went on to become one of the world’s most influential broodmares.

Balidaress was out of Innocence, a filly Richard bought and trained for Charlie Haughey. Ken Coogan finished second on Innocence in a 1970 Tralee nursery.

Fifty years on, Richard has managed to buy back into the family and he thought it would be fun to have a photograph of Ken with the daughter of Midshipman.

If you have a good name for the filly, why not email Richard at theequinevet@hotmail.com.

SMART move by Sky Bet to sponsor the Grade 3 Killiney Novice Chase at Punchestown on Sunday, January 17th. Envoi Allen is a likely runner and the race could attract huge media attention, possibly even featuring on the RTÉ news reports.