Congratulations to Peter Savill, the chairman of the British Horseracing Board, who plans to move into Springfield House and stud in Co Wicklow in the New Year. He is paying around £2.5 million for the house and 160-acre stud which has been owned by another racing dynasty, the Mullions. Hamilton Osborne King had expected a little more for the superb eight-bedroom house which is easily one of the best country piles to come on the market this year.

Mr Savill is no stranger to Ireland and is a regular face at race meetings. In fact, so fond is he of the Irish craic that he held his wedding reception at the K Club. He has no less than 31 horses in training in England, and 14 in France and Ireland. His Irish trainer is Con Collins. Mr Savill had the distinction of winning the French derby in 1995 with Celtic Swing. He made his fortune by publishing in-flight magazines.