CRACKERDANCER’s win at Navan last weekend has left us dreaming of a possible trip to Punchestown for the Grade 1 Champion Bumper later this month. The mare has had to overcome serious injury but is now fulfilling her potential after over two years off the track. Ground permitting, she will take her chance in that race and it would be a fairytale ending to what has already been a very long road.

Some of my earliest memories of racing revolve around Beau Ranger, a horse my father Liamowned to win his first two starts. Initially trained by our neighbour Pat Hogan, we later sold him to England, where he went on to win the 1987 Mackeson Gold Cup at Cheltenham. I was very young at the time but remember watching the videos of him in those big handicap chases.