“THE phone just hasn’t stopped ringing!” exclaimed a delighted Peggy Hagan as she fielded a call from this writer congratulating her on Balnaslow’s great triumph in the Champion Hunters’ Chase at Punchestown last Friday.

The popular owner cheered up many people with her remark to Andrew McNamara during RTE’s post-race interview that, these days, she only gets out to Festivals and to the doctors.