Dylan Thomas added to his already sizeable collection of accolades by scooping the Irish Horse Racing Awards’ Horse Of The Year.:gggg:

Aidan O’Brien’s recently-retired colt endured a disappointing end to the campaign, but had earlier carried carried virtually all before him and beat the likes of New Approach and Peeping Fawn to the prize.

For a fourth consecutive year Ruby Walsh was given the National Hunt award and Jim Bolger the Flat, with Outstanding Achievement going the way of young Grand National-winning trainer Gordon Elliott.

Derek O’Connor took the point-to-point honours, with respected Irish journalist Tony Sweeney the recipient of the Contribution To The Industry Award.

Held at the Shelbourne Hotel in Dublin, this was the fifth running of the ceremony hosted by Horse Racing Ireland and voted on by the racing media.

They were presented by Seamus Brennan, Minister for Arts, Sport & Tourism, who said: “2007 delivered much racing success for Ireland at home and abroad, enhancing our reputation globally as a centre of excellence for breeding, training and racing thoroughbred horses.”