IN a year of special celebration for the McArdle family of Inniskeen, Co Monaghan, the gauntlet was thrown down to trainer John McConnell to source a smart National Hunt horse - and he looks to have delivered just that.

It was a thoroughly likeable display from six-year-old mare Walks The Talk when landing a Roscommon mares’ maiden hurdle last month by five and a half lengths, and hopes are now high that it could be the start of a memorable journey with the daughter of Walk In The Park.