EARLIER this week’s boxing’s ‘The Greatest’ Muhammad Ali, celebrated his 70th birthday and 50 years ago yesterday, National Hunt racing’s equivalent, the peerless steeplechaser Arkle, gained his first victory in a modest novice hurdle at Navan.

LIAM McLoughlin of Ratoath, Co Meath, who has died at the age of 75, had the distinction of riding legendary steeplechaser Arkle to his first victory in Navan in January, 1962.