O’Sullivan clears hurdles to get things back on course

IN many ways Punchestown nearly became the train that ran out of gravy. One of the most beautiful natural settings for racing anywhere in the world, it had a fortune spent on it - largely of taxpayers’ money - but it very nearly went to the wall because agreement could not be reached between the owners and Horse Racing Ireland as to how it should be run.

In November last year, the owners, the Kildare Hunt Club (in whom the course was invested in trust by the former owners, the La Touche family) finally reached an eleventh hour agreement with Horse Racing Ireland but, behind the scenes trying to keep the train on the tracks was a Kerryman with a very varied background but a sound grasp of economics and good business practice.

Dick O’Sullivan is that man and when any future history of the track is written he will play a small but instrumental role in the chapter dealing with how the track was saved from financial ruin.