FERGAL Nesbitt has competed at Tyrella on the odd occasion over the years with his previous visit to the Co Down seaside venue before last weekend being in 2014.

Hopefully, it won’t be as long before the Tipperary event rider heads back to the Corbett family’s estate but he didn’t enjoy the best of days on his latest venture north which started at 2am on Saturday when he left home with two horses in a box filled to the brim with diesel.

“I decided I’d leave nothing to chance and had everything prepared days in advance,” said Fergal who was on his own for the drive. “I also wanted to be there early which I was as I was the first competitor to pull into the field about 6.30. Unfortunately, after that, things didn’t go to plan and, between one thing and another, I was about the last to leave 12 hours later.

“I had just turned left outside the main gate when I heard a huge bang and discovered that I had a double blow out. As everything had gone so badly before that I could only laugh and throw the reins at the day! Needless to say, Dora (Beacom) was great and between her and Pat Turley they put me in contact with a guy who came out and fitted two new tyres. I got going again about 9.20 and, taking a break en route for a bit of a rest, arrived home at 3.30am. It was a long day!”