Category: RACING
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Snow ploughs at the ready…
There was a time, thankfully many moons ago now, that yours truly gave considerable consideration to seeing what the darker side of the tracks had to offer. No doubt a large cohort of people will be horrified by the mere thought. Now read on… Wheelchair or not, the desire to fit in with my peers…
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Time for the others to show there Power as the Pup bows out
BREAKING NEWS Grand National and Gold Cup winning jockey, Robbie Power from Moynalvey, has announced he will retire from race riding at the end of tomorrow (Friday) evening’s card at Punchestown. The son of former champion show jumper Captain Con Power, the man affectionately know as Puppy first came to prominence when partnering the Gordon…
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He’s only gone and done it again
It’s hard to know which is the most surprising, that the bookies let Lord Lariat go off at 40/1, or that yours truly forgot to put a few bob thereon having had the pleasure of spending an evening in the company of the steed’s wonderful trainer, Dermot McLoughlin. Sometimes though, it’s not about the punting.…
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Waley-Cohen goes out in the most fitting way
Life and/or sport generally don’t do fairytales but, in an almost ironic way, when they do, they often choose the Aintree Grand National as the stage for a heart warming tale. Now read on… Think of Bob Champion overcoming cancer to claim the great race, or father and son combinations like Paul and Tommy Carberry…
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Keeping it local – a key part of the Boylesports Irish Grand National story
They say home is where the heart is. Seldom if ever has an adage been more applicable than in the case of the Boylesports Irish Grand National, the 150th incarnation of which was launched in Dunboyne Castle Hotel this evening. Just think of some of the names associated with Ireland’s greatest race. The Moore family,…
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Too much of a good thing devalues it
There are people, and you can count yours truly firmly among them, who, from the moment the Martin Pipe Hurdle is concluded, begin the countdown to the following season’s incarnation of the Cheltenham Festival. That will probably and hopefully eternally be the case. Forget about the trainers and jockeys and even the owners for a…
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Big two dominate during a great weekend for Royal racers
The clip of Johnny Murtagh’s Champs Elysees rattling home to score during Champions Weekend at Leopardstown is still fresh in the memory. There was nobody but the trainer and his wife Orla in stand celebrating a milestone success for the Cortown man. Seagulls were the only competition they might have had for a spot. As…
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Home comforts see Silver shine up well
Old sayings generally came about for a reason. ‘Horses for courses’ was definitely the most applicable one in this locality yesterday as the Mulvany’s Bar Syndicate enjoyed another good day in Fairyhouse when Sil Ver Klass was a cosy winner of the Handicap Chase on the card under Bryan Cooper. The syndicate, made up of…
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A welcome victory against the grain
With what felt like the flick of a switch, the world was declared normal again. Or a version thereof. Or what passes for it now. However. just in case I’d the slightest idea of slipping back into some form of routine, the glorious nuisance that is Cellulitis decided to pay an unscheduled and completely unwanted…
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Reserving the right to be confused
In the world of the GAA long ago, there was a utility player who was all the rage. He could fill in at any position from goalkeeper to left corner forward. He was the perfect manifestation of the ‘roving role’ in that he was availabe to each of the 32 counties. London and New York…