Noel O'Brien an inherently decent person who earned everyone's respect

The reality of never again encountering Noel O’Brien on a racecourse is a woefully solemn thought that will take time to absorb.

If there exists a more universally popular and likeable human being in any facet of Irish racing’s bubble, they don’t readily come to mind.

Many of O’Brien’s regulatory and administrative colleagues and peers in the Turf Club and Horse Racing Ireland will be all too familiar with the confrontational nature that at times is unavoidably synonymous with positions of authority.