AT the start of 2017 I set myself a challenge to visit all the 26 Irish racecourses on the island on a raceday in the calendar year. On Wednesday, I attended the Kerry National at Listowel and this was my penultimate racecourse visit.

Some 25,000 made their way to the track on the day to see Lisa O’Neill win the feature for the second year in a row. What a boost this was for female riders and Lisa, Rachael Blackmore and others continue to show that they are up to competing with the boys. Imagine how more frequent that occurrence could be were the authorities here to follow the French example and give an allowance for gender?