MARGARET Simpson paid an emotional return visit to Stratford towards the end of last week as, a year earlier, she had travelled over to the track’s hunters’ chase meeting in the company of her late mother, Peggy Hagan.

“I wouldn’t let that horse of mummy’s run anywhere if I couldn’t be there,” said Margaret in reference to Chosen Dream, the 66/1 winner of Friday evening’s champion hunters’ chase in the hands of Mark O’Hare, and not, as one might have thought, the 7/4 favourite Balnaslow who finished fourth under Derek O’Connor.

“Mummy had a real soft spot for Chosen Dream and she would have had a ball had she been there.”

Margaret, her husband Nigel and son David repeated the 2017 trip by going over on Thursday, coming back on Saturday and eating in the same restaurant in Stratford.

“Mummy always said that if you were going to do something you should do it right. She’s terribly missed.”

For Graham McKeever, who trains both horses, this seven-length win by the yard’s less fancied runner, the longest-priced horse in the 11-strong line-up, was not totally unexpected.

“We always knew that there was a big day in him but he had to have everything in his favour and that’s what happened on Friday. There was a fast pace and the ground was a bit tacky which made it a real test over nearly three and a half miles. He loved the trip and the pace. I’ve always wanted to run him at Cheltenham but he was too lowly rated. Perhaps he’ll get in there now.”

Interviewed after the win for Racing UK by Mike Cattermole, Mark O’Hare revealed: “To be fair, the race worked out lovely for him, they went a nice gallop, he likes something to follow and chase … they’ve plenty of water on it, it’s lovely jumping ground … Peggy, the former owner, she passed away last year, Derek’s one of her favourites … it’s my first time at Stratford, I’ve sat at home watching this meeting for years, and years and to come here now and collect a winner is lovely, it’s great.”

Mark and Derek flew over on the morning of the race along with Graham and his wife Katie. Also on the flight was Barry O’Neill who pulled up the David Christie-trained, Ray Nicholas-owned Eddies Miracle in the Champion Novices’ Hunters’ Chase.

Derrylin-based Christie was also represented during the evening by Velvet Maker who finished fifth of 17 under owner David Maxwell in the two-mile, one-furlong open hunters’ chase.

With eight wins to his credit, Maxwell finished fourth on the amateur gentleman jockeys’ National Hunt championship table behind Lorcan Williams (12) and Zac Baker and Alex Edwards who rounded off the season on 11 wins apiece.

The McKeever horses are now on their holidays. “It was a weird season for all of us,” said Graham, “and the worst winter ever for horses and humans alike. I was glad to see the back of it. I haven’t a single three-year-old about the place so I have to restock now and get ready for next year. Mark is on fire and had a great season which was good to see.”

Back home, O’Hare notched up two more bumper wins this week.

For now regular ally, Co Meath trainer Noel Meade, the Banbridge farrier rode at Roscommon on Tuesday when he landed the finale with the odds-on favourite Jerandme who had been a winner for the pair on his debut at Down Royal early last month. The following evening, O’Hare was at Punchestown where he won the bumper on the Eddie Harty-trained Advantage Point.