WHEN the spring campaign was brought to a premature end last March due to the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, and with little sign that it was set to disappear during the summer months, the prospect of a bumper 38-fixture autumn campaign being completed without any significant hiccups would have been snapped up by all involved without any hesitation.

“It was so important that the season went ahead, it would have been a catastrophe if it didn’t,” said handler and recent HRI Awards winner Eugene O’Sullivan when reflecting on the past four months of racing. “I would have seven or eight young lads on or off working for me and you would have nothing for them if it wasn’t going ahead,” added the Co. Cork handler who has the added perspective of also organising last Sunday’s fixture at Dromahane.