Category: RACING
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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…
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Schoolboy marks the half century in style
Having done the one job for a half century, you would either be an expert at whatever discipline it happened to be or completely fed up with it. There’s no way Noel Meade could be dissatisfied with the 50th anniversary of producing equine excellence from his Tu Va base in Castletown, Co Meath. Having belatedly…
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A local finish that was anything but flat
The occupant of this seat can only recall being at a beach twice in four plus decades. One of which was an absolutely horrendous experience, which I’ll get to in a minute, while the other was pure bliss in the heatwave summer of 1995 at the beautiful Port Salon in Donegal. The bad experience, ironically,…
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Would you stake your claim?
It may have been mentioned here in the last few months, but, I haven’t been able to watch a cattle mart since da went ringside up yonder. Tried watching Carnaross again last night – the minute an Angus heifer entered the ring Niagra Falls emerged from behind my glassess. Horse racing has remained a constant…