Danoli retires

Irish national hunt superstar Danoli is to enjoy his retirement at the Irish National Stud where managers hope the horse known as the “people’s champion” will become an attraction to the 130,000 annual visitors.

Danoli, now 12, won 17 of his 32 starts including the 1994 Sun Alliance Novices Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, two Martell Aintree Hurdles and the 1997 Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Leopardstown.

He was trained in Co Carlow by Tom Foley for owner Dan O’Neill.