FOLLOWING in the footsteps of someone who had overseen such a spectacular turnaround in its fortunes in his seven-year stint as CEO of the Irish National Stud was always going to be difficult. In that context, that the person taking up the mantle was only 34 certainly took many observers by surprise.

Cathal Beale does not have the same history with the INS as John Osborne, who grew up there when his father, Michael was manager from 1970 to 1982 and in all, was associated with the Tully operation in a professional capacity for 32 years. Yet his connection is deep and serves him well when it comes to the unique demands of this job.