THERE cannot be many racecourse managers anywhere in the world who can claim that Superman helped them to pursue a career in racing, but then again, not all racing administrators are cut from the same cloth as Richard Lyttle.

If a formula exists when it comes to boosting the fortunes of racecourses and delivering a feel-good factor to a day at the races, the Lisburn, Co Antrim native appears to have cracked the code. Luckily for Irish racing, he has imparted his expertise over the past 26 years on Navan and, more recently, Downpatrick.