All bets on Galway for flutters and frolics
Although an excursion to Cheltenham in March caused further fiscal embarrassment, a rollicking run by a rickety rag at Punchestown left me royally flush. The rag in question, scientifically selected with a pin (a rag being the horse at the bottom of the betting market), left me moist-eyed with gratitude, a grand richer and with a lip on me for greater success.
And so I arrived in Galway today, buoyed up by rich Punchestown pickings, but wary of being “too sharp”, which in racing parlance means too pumped up on a win.
Trackside, officials expect last year’s 200-strong-plus attendance over the seven day festival to be topped this time out, and in the city, even with 400 extra beds, it’s tourist gridlock.
These days, Ballybrit is a shrine to high-quality entertainment and half the country seeks to make the pilgrimage. Politicians are no exception and the presence of EU Commissioner Charlie McCreevy and Sports Minister John O’Donoghue are as sure a bet as the tipster’s nap. The Good, the Bad and the Beautiful shimmy their way towards the Ballybrit Suite, a fancy-dan tent for wannabes giddy enough to fork out close to €4,000 for a prize seat at the Fianna Fáil table. Those without power, pull or profit share the delights of a myriad of marquees, where tonight Hector ‘Only Fools Buy Horses’ O hEochagáin will regale the drinking masses.
Later on, a pick and mix of watering holes entice those for whom partying has only begun, to make the trip into Galway city. With barmen under oath not to hike prices, punters can look forward to fair trade and horrendous queues barside.
For the insatiable seeking that one final frolic, there’s always the lure of the high-stakes poker table in late night hotels.
Galway this week has all its cards on the table and only the joker in the pack would be fool enough not to take a gamble and head west.
