The omens were bad - and unfortunately for Glanmore Susan they proved to be right

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!”

It’s not Tom Mulcahy’s first time having a qualifier for Clonmel – in many decades of trying he’s been there twice before, in fact reached the quarter-final in 2000 with Glanmore Smut, who has the record of winning the first Trial Stake of this Millennium, in Abbeyfeale.

But still, no matter what age you are, no matter what gender, the feeling never gets old. Clonmel, Powerstown Racecourse, the annual National Coursing Meeting, the Oaks; Glanmore Susan isn’t anywhere near the top of the betting but that’s not the point, not even related to the point. She’s there, won her Trial Stake only a couple of weeks ago but no matter; she qualified, and as the owner, the trainer, the breeder, Tom can now dream the dream.