WE know there are some pretty talented people among readers of The Irish Field and one of them, Adam Breen from Omagh, Co Tyrone, has sent in this picture of a salmon fly which he has tied in the colours of his equine hero, Un De Sceaux, and the story behind it.

“In addition to loving National Hunt racing, I am equally passionate about fly fishing, and we salmon anglers welcome grey skies and juice in the ground. One horse in particular, if he could speak, would say the same – Un De Sceaux.

“This serial winning machine has been at the top of his game longer that nature usually permits, and the special place in our hearts is well earned.

“His kind of exuberance is not usually conducive to a long career, yet for six years now he is still in the fight, still storming forward, still trading leather.

“Racing fans are all too aware of the fate of the Our Conors and Douvans of this world – thank goodness the gods have not conspired against UDS in a cruel manner.

“I have loved him for years. The heavy ground Irish demolitions and the Cheltenham Festival wins, but I think his best performances were in the Tingle Creek at Sandown.

“In 2016, a couple of kamikaze lunges at the last two allowed Sire De Grugy to head him, but dwarfed by the former champion chaser, he battled back to win.

“Two years later with age against him, he gave the brilliant Altior a race, who, as usual, just found enough. It wasn’t to be but this was a victory in defeat.

“Salmon flies are generally variations of each other and are regularly named after the rivers/beats that spawned them, but I’m confident that my rivers in Tyrone will prove receptive to a new pattern inspired by the O’Connell’s granite horse.

“When I think of UDS I see a brown bay horse, with sky blue and orange silks who won plenty of silverware - the fly just naturally tied itself.

“This brilliant animal will go down in history for his exploits on the track. Could he leave a legacy for salmon anglers over the world for the fly tied in his honour?”