Movie aficionados would of course have known this instantly, but, this corner only learned this evening that I Am Maximus is a reference to Russell Crowe’s character in Gladiator. So it was probably only appropriate that the greatest gladiator there is in terms of racehorse ownership, JP McManus, not only bought the horse in the… Read More JP’s last minute shopping pays off
Quite a few of my late father’s closest friends worked with or were around horses horses all their lives. People like Ollie Cunningham and Frank McKeon and Nick Clonan, lord rest them all. Connections between our family and the Mannings go back generations. And, God willing, if or when I ever get back farming, Brian… Read More Gentleman John and the Paddys make it a day to remember
Stories such as those of the late Tom Foley and Oliver Brady or Mick Winters or Anthony Knott across the water are what make National Hunt racing the special part of life it is for so many of us. For those of us imbued with a love of racing running through our veins, stories like… Read More One viewpoint that didn’t take long to be proven right
Anyone who thinks top level sportspeople don’t teeter on the brink of acceptability and sometimes topple over it most likely still has the Tooth Fairy on Speed Dial. That is not to condone those who go too far – even within the bounds of allowing for stretching things – but trying to convince oneself it… Read More The old saying is actually the wrong way around
Local jockey Keith Donoghue recorded a poignant double on Saturday afternoon’s Navan card. The rider sported a black armband in memory of his grand uncle Andy Lynch who was laid to rest this afternoon. Dunsany’s Andy was himself a highly distinguished and universally popular member of the local horse fraternity. Through his role as whipper-in… Read More Poignant double for Donoghue as gentleman Andy remembered
Jack Kennedy has emerged as a serious doubt for this year’s Cheltenham Festival having sustained a significant leg injury following a fall from Top Bandit in a novice chase at Naas on Sunday. Gordon Elliott trains Top Bandit and he said the jockey faces being sidelined for the “Foreseeable future” owing to what is by… Read More Kennedy a major Festival doubt
I was so very sad to hear of the passing of Phil Leonard yesterday. I first got to know Noel properly at the time of the 1999 Local Elections and have been privileged to visit their home on numerous occasions over the years since. Like their late neighbour Vincent Poleon, the fact the wheelchair couldn’t… Read More Mrs Phil Leonard – R.I.P.
One of the perhaps lesser known drawbacks of dealing with depression, or indeed any mental health difficulty is the ferocity and rapidity with which it can decimate a body’s confidence. Conversely, it can then take millennia to rebuild. Thus, having got myself physically and mentally strong enough to go to the Fairyhouse Winter Festival, there… Read More Trusting your own judgement and reserving it on others
An era ended in Ballybrit this afternoon when the quiet legend of the Irish Flat weighroom, Kevin Manning, called time on his illustrious glory-laden career in the saddle. Fittingly going out on a winner prepared by his father-in-law and boss, Jim Bolger. Vocal Studies carrying the colours of Jim’s wife Jackie, as so many of… Read More Quiet legend Manning goes out on a high note
After the euphoria conveyed in the last offering in this space relating to Dunboyne’s victory in the Junior Hurling Championship, in a way, this is chapter two of the same story. Initially, one had felt quite low at Act II coming to fruition. Not out of bitterness or begrudgery, just because of feeling removed from… Read More A town divided in celebration!