WITH the season winding down, we returned to the ‘dashing’ Duhallow for their final meet at Monymusk Stud, the home of senior master Kate Jarvey, near Kanturk deep in the heart of the barony of Duhallow. It is said that this is a unique nursery for jockeys, horsemen and horses alike. Just taking Monymusk alone, it has produced three Grand National winners in recent years when owned by the late Trevor Hemmings. It reads like a racing ‘who’s who’ with Hedgehunter in 2005, Ballabriggs four years later and Many Clouds completing the hat-trick in 2015, surely a record never to be equalled.

The stud has continued its winning ways under its current owner, Mrs Kate Jarvey, who bred last year’s winner of the Maryland five-star event, Colorado Blue, ridden by Duhallow’s own and Irish Horse World Event Rider of the Year, Austin O’Connor (see pages 90-93).