Irish eyes still smiling as cool punters splash cash

IT must be the miracle of Cheltenham that, in sub-zero conditions, snow showers and the wickedest of winds, the only thing not frozen were Irish bank accounts.

Punters were hauling money from their pockets all week like they were getting rid of an infestation and if there was any caution being exercised, it only concerned not stepping outside without a hat.

The splurge kept bookmaker John Mulholland from Galway a busy man. “The money here is huge,” he said.

“They bet the same and more in sterling as they would in euro so they’re betting a lot more than they would at home. They’re going by units not currency, just whatever they have in their pockets, but it doesn’t seem to worry them.”

Cork bookie, Ellen Martin, actually got abuse for refusing to take the money off one ill-advised punter who wanted to take a €1,200 bet on a 12-to-1 shot just as the tape was about to be lifted on the track.

“I told him I’d take a few hundred but not that much. He got really annoyed and said go way and buy some sweets for yourself,” she said.

“I did him a favour because the horse didn’t finish but you’d have to laugh. I never saw someone so mad keen to give away their money.”

One bookie was wearing a giant, furry, leprechaun hat, raising the question of whether he was hoping for the luck of the Irish or hoping the Irish would be lucky.

“A bit of both,” Mike Kujawa declared diplomatically in a chunky local accent that ruled out any traces of Irishness.

“Mum and dad were Polish but you’ve got to be a bit Irish on St. Patrick’s Day,” he said.

His hat trick wasn’t working too well though, because despite the place being awash with Irish money, not a lot of it was coming his way.

“I told the brother he better get some euro to prepare for all the Irish punters but we’ve only had two euro bets.”

Conor Murphy from Dublin had no complaints about business. “There was loads of money around. The Irish are still backing big time. This would be the best week we’ve had in the five years we’ve come here.

“Everyone’s talking about the cold but we were kept warm with a few winners. A few punters will be warm too at that rate.”

Meanwhile, hundreds of well-wishers are expected to welcome Cheltenham winner Newmill home to Upton, County Cork this afternoon. Trainer John Murphy is due to arrive with the Queen Mother Champion Chase winner shortly after lunch.