'If looks are anything to go by, he'll be a successful stallion'

For me, previous iterations of the stallion trail have been more of a headlong dash around the countryside, trying to cram in as many stud farms and sires as possible in the two days. Ireland isn't a very big country but when navigating byroads and motorways, contending with errant eircodes and misdirected signs, patchy wifi and sometimes non-existent phone coverage, traversing the stallion trail has been more of an endurance event than a leisurely jaunt through some of Ireland's most picturesque landscapes.

If Columbus had put as much effort into plotting his course to India as I did my routes around Ireland's thoroughbred breeding hotspots, he probably would have found his way to India rather than accidentally stumbling upon the Bahamas.

An English friend who is an owner and breeder was very keen to visit some of Ireland's leading stud farms to see for themselves the sires they had not been able to view in recent years, especially those that might be under consideration for their mares, so we thought that although Ireland in January might still be suffering from a Christmas hangover, a weekend inspecting stallions and taking in some racing would be the perfect way to start 2023.