Promising juveniles providing a sense of pride for Frances Crowley

There could be a more obvious graduate of Brickfield Stud to come to the fore shortly but a debut victory at Catterick on Wednesday by Wan'Em was a reminder that it is very much still around.

Brickfield is far better known as the County Offaly home of Frances Crowley and her revered husband Pat Smullen and the couple had been quietly bringing it along as a breeding nursery prior to the nine-time champion jockey’s death in September 2020.

Crowley is, it should not be forgotten, a distinguished figure herself, being the first woman to train an Irish Classic winner with Saoire in the 2005 Irish 1,000 Guineas, aged just 32. Daughter of the skilled Joe Crowley, she also prepared some fine and popular jumps horses including Moscow Express, Sackville and Nil Desperandum.