IT has been a sad end to April for the Mullen/Donnelly families following the death last Thursday of their great working hunter Majestic Gold, better known as Fattie.

The 1998 grey was owned by Co Meath’s Paddy Mullen whose daughter, Toni Donnelly, partnered the mare to qualify for the Horse Of Year show in 2004, 2005 and 2006. They were placed at Balmoral and in the RDS and won numerous working hunter championships throughout the country.

“Thankfully we have Fattie’s six-year-old gelding, Majestic Match (by Match Point) who is eventing with Clare Steele, a three-year-old filly named Majestic Fox (by Road To Happiness) and also her now five-week-old colt foal by another thoroughbred, Mr Big Cat,” reported Toni who is based at White Cottage Stables in Saintfield.

Paddy spent last Friday with Toni at the Northern Ireland Festival in Cavan then travelled down to Dromiskin the following morning for the first day of Louth County show after which he enjoyed a convivial evening in the company of friends in the Carrickdale Hotel.

On Sunday, he made his way to Fairyhouse for the Meath and Tara point-to-point where he had the pleasure of seeing his colours carried to success in the winners of one race by Simon Cavanagh on Lion’s Choice.