FUNDS raised by the 34th running of Punchestown Kidney Research Fund Charity Race are expected to bring the charity past the €2 million mark, according to PKRF Chairman James Nolan. For many of the 19 riders that took part on the final day of the Punchestown Festival, kidney research and organ donation are causes close to their hearts, including Saturday’s winner, Sarah Costello.

Reflecting on her win aboard the Andy Slattery-trained Dark Note, Sarah said: “It was amazing. It’s a cause that’s very close to my family, with my dad having been on dialysis and getting a transplant, and my uncle has gotten a transplant.

“I was delighted really for my dad, that he got such a kick out of it as well, and all my family and friends were there. It was a very special day.”

Sarah’s father, former champion point-to-point rider Dermot Costello, must have been proud of his daughter’s performance on the day. Dark Note was keen in the early stages, but he and his rider had enough left in reserve to pick up well in the straight, leading close home to beat Tony Martin’s Presenting Max, ridden by Nicky O’Connor, by half a length.

Sarah’s sisters, Emily and Laura, have both ridden winners between the flags and under rules, but Sarah’s perfect start hasn’t ignited a dream to get her own licence. “I’m a one-hit wonder,” she said. “I’m going to leave it at that and get out while I’m one from one.”

On her preparation for the race, Sarah explained: “We’ve point-to-pointers in at home, so I’d always be riding out a few at home any day they were short of help. I was in Slattery’s for two mornings before the race, and I got to sit on the horse and ride him in a piece of work. But other than that, I didn’t have time to slot in much extra; right now, I’m working at home, farming full-time.”

“Everyone in the yard couldn’t have been more helpful about everything. I was talking to Andy the week before the race and he said the horse was in good form, and hopefully I’d get a good spin of him, but I was never expecting to win, so it just made it extra special.”

The 26-year-old paid tribute to James Nolan’s dedication to the cause. “It’s so well organised. James Nolan puts in an amazing effort, and none of it would happen without him, because so much work goes in behind the scenes, and he makes it all happen for us.

“It’s a credit to him, and it’s a credit to the owners and trainers as well, for supporting a year in, year out, and giving the horses. It’s mind-blowing how generous people are; how they get behind it.”