AMONG those delighted to see Gigginstown House Stud’s Battleoverdoyen maintain his unbeaten record in the Grade 1 Lawlor’s of Naas Novice Hurdle on Sunday was Michael Lynch, previous owner of the Doyen bay.

The Magheralin resident made a brilliant start when adding pinhooking to his occupations as lorry driver and Charolais cattle dealer as Battleoverdoyen was the first horse he ever purchased. “I looked at him a few times before I bought him privately from his breeder Caroline Berry as a foal. While I wouldn’t have known a lot about horses then, I loved his conformation and the fact that he was a big, strong individual.