TWELVE months ago, Walk In The Park was crowned champion point-to-point sire for the first time with a staggering set of figures. A total of 49 winners was a record in the sphere dating back to 1989, whilst the 22-winner cushion that he enjoyed over the chasing pack was also record-breaking.

There has been no difficult second album syndrome this season either. The victory of Denis Murphy’s Bonnie Gold at Necarne a fortnight ago took the Grange Stud resident into the 40-winner bracket for a second successive season. Siring the winners of 40 point-to-point races is no mean feat, particularly when it is remembered that pre-Walk In The Park, the last horse to do so was Beneficial back in 2013.