Racing pundits luck out at the FF tent

IT was a financial stroke of luck that even Bertie Ahern couldn’t dream of. His daughter Cecelia’s boyfriend David Keoghan put €100 each way and €100 to win on My Valley at 25 to 1 and came out €6,000 wealthier.

“I really don’t have a clue about horse racing, I knew nothing about the horse before hand,” he said, in a denial that made him fit in like a pro at his first-ever visit to the Fianna Fáil tent.

“They said to me ‘he’s way out, he doesn’t stand a chance’ and I thought, sure, the poor fella, why not give him a chance,” said the young actor.

A man of the people like himself, Bertie couldn’t help but give him a nice slap on the back.

“Beginner’s luck, beginner’s luck,” said the relaxed Taoiseach to the amusement of an onlooker who told him: “You’ve had that yourself for a long time.”

But any concerns that his luck may be running out did not bother Bertie Ahern as he shook hands, enjoying the sunshine and the racing after arriving in Ballybrit yesterday evening, which was attended by close to 27,000 punters.

Asked whether it was hard for him to enjoy such events when concerns of the Mahon Tribunal were hanging over him, he said: “I never have any difficulty enjoying sport events. It’s very easy for me to do that.

“The corporate tent is a very important part of our fundraising. We’ve been doing this now for 18 years and we’ll continue to do it for a long time to come.”

And the former Finance Minister wasn’t giving anything away even when it came to horses. “You get so many tips here, the hardest part is trying to decipher them all,” he said.

The Taoiseach arrived in his Merc shortly before four o’clock, followed by an entourage of Cecelia and her actor boyfriend David, as well as Ronan Keating and his wife Yvonne, who all went to meet and greet the party’s grassroots in the Fianna Fáil corporate tent.

“I have my lucky underwear on,” Ronan laughed, but Agriculture Minister, Mary Coughlan, wasn’t interested. “I’m here to see the real Fianna Fáil people,” said the only Government Minister in attendance at yesterday’s race meeting.

Ronan did, however, have his political influences and was blamed for Bertie putting 200 each way on Baby Blue Eyes, promising to donate any winnings to the Irish Wheelchair Association.

Also enjoying the day were Irish manager Steve Staunton, former Liverpool striker Ian Rush and Martin Keown, a former Arsenal player, whose family are originally from Galway.

Sunderland manager Roy Keane, who was in Galway ahead of tonight’s game against Galway United gave the races a miss. But he gave players a few hours off training to relax at the race track.

Chairman of the club Niall Quinn said: “They’ve been working really hard and deserve the relax. But it’s not about now, it’s about when we play against Spurs.”

The Fianna Fáil tent will charge €4,000 for a table of 10 and is always a firm favourite of builders and developers.

The new chairman of the Construction Industry Federation and former PD TD Tom Parlon said the Galway Races is a good time for people to mix but said he would not be visiting the Fianna Fáil tent.

Watching the races with a bottle of beer in hand he said: “I’ve hardly ever been in there. I’ve often been invited as a guest at the races. I prefer being out and about, at the parade ring, seeing the runners before they run, watching the race outside and I always bet with the bookies. If you’re in a tent that’s fine, but when I go to the races I like to really go racing and have the craic.

“I’ve been coming to Galway... I think it must be 25 years. I love it, particularly when the weather is good like this evening. The first time I came here I was a silage contractor.

“I’ve been meeting the same people here for all those years. Everybody comes to the Galway Races whether you’re a builder, a politician or a farmer,” he said.

Parlon said he was feeling more relaxed this year because he is no longer involved in politics.

“Being out of politics is certainly a big weight off my shoulders. People will be cynical about politicians but they have a big responsibility, you’re always worried about the next election and you have to be on call all the time, and certainly I’m more relaxed now, I don’t have that sort of pressure on me.”

He said controversy surrounding his new job was “politically motivated” and took him a little by surprise. “I don’t have any conflict of interest and if any were ever to arise I would declare it,” he said.

For the moment, however, his main concern was Ballycullen Boy unexpectedly falling.