IF the old seanfhocal “tús maith leath na hoibre” is true, then we’re surely set for a crackerjack of a campaign in the top echelon of National Hunt jockeys in Ireland this season.

No rider in the weighing room will have the firepower that reigning champion jockey Paul Townend has at his disposal, but one of the stories of Ireland’s summer jumping action has been the rapid start from Darragh O’Keeffe. He has blasted out of the gates like a Wesley Ward speedball - and he’s showing no signs of stopping.