ONE of the most familiar faces on Irish racecourses will be missing when racing gets underway again next week. If you are an owner or a professional, and have used the Association of Irish Racecourses (AIR) turnstile at any of the Irish racecourses, you have encountered Robert Costello.

Last weekend, in a post on Facebook, he announced that he was finally stepping away from the role he has had for over a quarter of a century. Now he will spend time with his family and helping his daughter Sinéad in her battle with Multiple Sclerosis. A few years ago Sinéad was diagnosed with a rare form of the disease, affecting about five in every 100 cases, known as Progressive-Relapsing MS. It is characterised by a steadily worsening state of the disease, with acute relapses and no remissions.