OWNER Jim Monaghan and trainer Colin McBratney have taken the decision to retire Carsonstown Boy who very nearly landed the Foxhunter Chase at Cheltenham for them in 2014.

Brilliantly ridden that day by Noel McParlan, the 2004 Golden Tornado gelding made most of the running but was collared close home by the ill-fated Tammys Hill who got up to score by three and a quarter lengths under James Smyth. On The Fringe was a further one and three-quarters of a length back in third.

Before that first visit to Prestbury Park, Carsonstown Boy had won three hurdle races in the colours of Robert Scott and seven point-to-points for Monaghan. Although he failed to add to his tally of victories after February 2014, the bay returned to the Cheltenham Festival last year, when he finished fourth to On The Fringe, and started off this season filling the runner-up position at both Toomebridge and Farmacaffley.

On his final outing, at Fairyhouse over Easter, Carsonstown Boy, who was bred in Co Wexford by Edward Carter out of the Supreme Leader mare Elbonne, finished seventh in the hunters’ chase won by Sydney Paget. “We are a bit tight for room at home,” reported Monaghan, “so Cathal McGovern, who owned the 2009 Galway Plate winner Ballyholland, has offered to keep Carsonstown Boy at his place where a neighbour will hack the horse out.

“We’ve a few older horses here including my daughter Sharon’s Jinnys Beaverlamb (by Lahib) who won the Down Royal racehorse to riding horse league championship last year.

“I would hope to get back into the point-to-points sooner rather than later and we may go down the breeding route as well,” concluded the Ardglass car dealer.