DISAPPOINTINGLY, I wasn’t at Stradbally on Sunday and so missed seeing my good friend Fiona Wentges saddle, and lead up, her first point-to-point winner, Habaroun, in the adjacent hunts’ maiden at the Laois Foxhounds’ fixture.

By Dr Fong out of the Marju mare Haratila, the now eight-year-old was bred by the Aga Khan Stud who had the bay in training with Michael Halford but he never ran on the track. Fiona, who worked with Michael for many years, starting his horses over jumps, was able to secure Habaroun at the end of 2011 and he has since taken pride of place at her one-horse yard in Killucan.