BRIGHT Cherry is the dam of Arkle and the word Cherry in the name of a National Hunt horse can often mean that the animal comes from that famous female line. Arkle was bred by Mary Baker and foaled by Dan Daly at Ballymacoll Stud. There is nobody who has anything to do with horses that does not know who Arkle was. He gained immortality through his exploits.

Nine years ago Alison Baker, a daughter of Arkle’s breeder, went to the sales at Tattersalls Ireland and purchased a filly foal by Brian Boru out of Mystic Cherry for €2,200. Named Hannah Maud, she was put in training with Jim Dreaper (who else could have been given the role?) and she was sent point-to-pointing. She ran seven times, but connections would have been forgiven had they given up on her early on. Her first five starts resulted in the form figures FFPFB.