Tom O’Connor: ‘We’re only picking them out of lucky bags. You never know’

It wasn’t just the connections of Lilshane that were smiling when the 11-year-old pulled away to win the veterans chase at Navan on Saturday by six lengths.

These are the type of contests the racing public REALLY enjoy, the contestants not being any younger than 10 and thus well known by virtue of longevity, if not always consistent success. That is one of the enduring attractions of the national hunt sphere, in stark contrast to flat racing, where the policy of retiring successful two-year-olds to stud is being deployed increasingly.