RACEHORSE owner Tony Durkan died peacefully at his Dublin home earlier this month. He was 74.

News of his passing brought back memories of the spectacular front-running mare Anaglogs Daughter.

Bred and raced by Tom McDonald she won several times on the flat and over hurdles. Her ability was spotted by Tony and his brother Bill, the brothers from Bohola, Co Mayo who had prospered in the building industry in London.

Returning to Ireland with their families in the mid 1970s they got involved in jump racing and acquired the mare for a relatively modest sum. They immediately put her over fences and she made a well-backed winning debut at Thurles, ridden by Sean Lynch.

Martin Mulligan took over when Anaglogs Daughter returned to Thurles to run away with the P.Z. Mower Chase. A clear-cut success in the Arkle Chase at Leopardstown preceded a famous day at Cheltenham in March, 1980. With Tommy Carberry on board, she routed the opposition in the Arkle.

Assistant trainer Ferdy Murphy donned Tony’s colours when the mare broke her return journey to carry off the Aynsley China Chase at Chepstow four days later.

She went on to win several more chases including a second victory in the P.Z. Mower Chase at Thurles. Sadly, a hat-trick attempt in the same race proved her swansong. Finishing a game second to Smoke Charger, she was found to have broken down.

Tony enjoyed more Grade 1 success in 2002 with the Tony Mullins-trained Supreme Developer, while his L’Antartique won the novice handicap chase at the Cheltenham Festival and the Paddy Power Gold Cup at the same course, both in 2007. Giantofaman, trained by Dessie Hughes, won a Grade 2 hurdle at Thurles in his colours in 2014.

A wonderful raconteur, Tony had a great generosity of spirit and was one of life’s good guys. He is survived by his wife Mary and children Brian, Emma, Orla, Mary-Therese and Anthony. May he rest in peace. N. O’T