Former jump jockey John Allen making a big impact on the Flat in Australia

For all the international flavour of racing these days, we tend to maintain a parochial view when it comes to recognising the achievements of Irish-born jockeys.

If you haven't made the grade at home or in Britain you more or less slip off the radar. That general thought was put into more specific context last weekend when I had cause to look back at the result of the Bettyville Handicap Chase, a 2m5f Listed chase run at Wexford almost 13 years ago on November 27, 2005.

The winner Amorini was trained by Philip Rothwell, and was ridden by 3lb claimer John Allen, who first made headlines when partnering Dromlease Express to win the 2004 Pierse Hurdle, justifying notable pre-race confidence on the part of trainer Charles Byrnes.