ACE trainer Pa Fitzgerald’s won’t be giving up hope of further Irish Cup glory without a a big battle.

At 7.25am the alarm went off, before 7.30 he was out in the kennel, checking on Glanmore Susan; she was fine, even better than fine – “Hopping off the ground!”

The facilities will be limited but it will be a happy occasion when Shelbourne Park re-opens for racing this evening following the longest break the track has had since the Foot and Mouth outbreak.