IT’s always good to see the connection between hunting and racing being maintained and at Downpatrick on Sunday, the East Down hounds’ huntsman Declan Feeney and hononary whipper-in Brian Toner escorted Jack Kennedy and Poormans Hill back to the winner’s enclosure following their victory in the Toals Bookmakers Ulster National. Before racing, and following another appearance at the Co Down track by members of the Carryduff-based Ballycoan Pipe Band, Declan brought 19 and a half couple of hounds into the parade-ring, although the ‘half’ seemed to think that life would better outside the confines of the ring. Declan answered a lot of questions about hunting and hounds and took a bit of good natured ribbing as well.

INTERVIEW

Craig Cavan spoke about hunting and finished off his interview with commentator Jerry Hannon by thanking all those over whose land the pack had hunted during the season. The East Downs held their hunt ball at the racecourse last month.

Larne trainer Stuart Crawford has seen plenty of hounds in his time and was more interested in hearing how his runners were settling at Carlisle where, later in the afternoon, he recorded a double with Pat Sloan’s Apache Jack (Richard Johnson) in the near two and a half-mile handicap hurdle and newcomer Dr Sanderson in the bumper. The latter, a four-year-old Jeremy gelding who ran in the colours of Crawford’s brother Steven, brought up a double for jockey Brian Hughes whose first winner, Our Lucas, was by the same sadly-deceased sire.