THE Charlie Appleby-trained Adayar’s victory in last Saturday’s Cazoo Derby might have appeared an all-English affair but the trainer and his family have very strong Irish connections.

The Applebys spend as much of their non-racing time, particularly during the hunting season, at their house in Fethard. Charlie and Aisling get as many days as possible during the winter hunting with the Co Limerick where they arrive as part of John Halley’s entourage.

But then Aisling was brought up in Pallaskenry West Limerick where she would have ridden out and hunted with Paul and Jane Kennedy from their base in Cartown. Her time in Cartown would have coincided with young Paul, now an international showjumper, and John, part of the Coolmore empire, growing up. Aisling then went to work for Horse France in Kildare before moving to Newmarket where she met and married Charlie, then both working for Godolphin.

Charlie has risen to the very top of the trainers league with two Derbys (Adayar and Masar) and the Melbourne Cup with Cross Counter in 2018 plus so much more. They were thrilled to have had Adam Kirby as winning jockey. He had got the ride through a series of fortuitous chances and is very much part of the Appleby camp. He breaks and prepares most of the home-bred horses that come to the yard and had in fact broken Adayar and the third-placed Hurricane Lane.

When I rang Charlie on Sunday, he had a much more important runner than Adayar, as his daughter Erin, aged nine, was just completing her show jumping round at Keysoe Equestrian centre. Her twin sister Emily was not jumping as she prefers eventing while their other two, Edith (7) and Sean (5), are also keen competitors.

Last season was very special for the family as the twins had their first two days hunting with the Co Limerick from meets at Cartown and Glenogra.

Come August the ponies will be loaded up and shipped over to Fethard in preparation for the coming hunting season where Aisling keeps her horse the whole year round. Charlie generally gets a spare ride from the Halley stable.