HAVING attended the Cheltenham Festival, Leslie Young was back home in the United States well in time to supervise the arrival of some new horses from Ireland to her Ashwell Farm yard and start her defence as the country’s leading jumps trainer.

Married to Banbridge native Paddy Young, the former six-time champion jumps jockey in the States, Leslie sent out 37 winners from 157 starters last season for earnings of €999,300.

The 2023 National Steeplechase Association campaign got underway on Saturday at Aiken in South Carolina and while Young struck out there, she was on the mark at the following afternoon’s Cheshire Hunt meeting in Unionville.

There, Freddie Proctor landed the open timber race on Young’s Court Ruler, a nine-year-old Court Cave bay who won twice over hurdles last season.

On his only start on this side of the Atlantic, Court Ruler pulled up in a five-year-old geldings’ maiden at Quakerstown in April 2019 when trained by Ronnie O’Leary. Court Cave, who has been enjoying an excellent season with his runners both on the track and between the flags here and in Britain stands at the Broadsmill Stud, sponsor of the hunters’ chase at Downpatrick tomorrow.

Wide range of services for smaller animals

AFFINITY Veterinary Clinic, a new small animal practice based in Moira, officially opened its doors last month following a £118,000 investment from Ulster Bank for business start-up support.

Founded by local veterinarian Rebecca Martin, the clinic will offer a range of services to small animals including vaccinations, micro-chipping, x-rays, ultrasound imaging, dental procedures including dental x-rays, medical treatments, extensive in-house blood testing, surgical procedures, vet and nurse consultations.

Rebecca, who graduated from the University of Liverpool in 2012, previously worked in corporate practices and found the care for animals to be very expensive which can lead to potential long-term concerns for animal welfare, with owners being unable to afford their pets’ treatment.