Prayer fails to do trick for Paddy backers

BERNADETTE Coffey went to the church in Bantry yesterday morning and lit a candle for Paddy.

Forpadydeplasterer, that is. That he would return safe from his Cheltenham adventure, and that he would storm up the hill and get his nose in front for the Goat Racing Syndicate.

Somebody tore up the script when it came to the race itself, with the fairytale season for the 22 owners not finishing off with a win. A lost shoe may have had something to do with that.