THEY transformed a bankrupt, rat-infested venue with no roof on the saddling boxes, to a Grade 1 track selected by National Hunt trainers as the ideal seasonal or career starting point for a plethora of jumping stars, but from January 1st, the progressive management team at the reigning racecourse of the year, Down Royal will no longer be in place.

In the context of the 333 years of the not-for-profit Down Royal Corporation of Horse Breeders organising racing in Northern Ireland, Jim Nicholson’s 26 years as chairman and Mike Todd’s 22 as manager is brief. Yet their impact has been spectacular.