Punchestown punters win in recession stakes
The fourth day of the country’s top national hunt festival at the Co Kildare racecourse would provide little evidence of a nation suffering financial hardship.
True, the demonstrations of excess witnessed at the height of the Celtic Tiger may have been mercifully absent but a bumper crowd nevertheless turned up with the intention of partying and spending in case such exuberance might soon go out of fashion.
And indeed it was hard to blame anyone for escaping the doom and gloom by turning out in glorious sunshine for Ladies Day at the meeting.
Punchestown general manager Dick O’Sullivan expressed satisfaction that yesterday’s attendance figure of 28,664 represented a slight increase on Ladies Day in 2009.
The ending of the ban on flights earlier this week ensured that there was a sizeable number of British visitors for what English trainer Nicky Henderson described as “the away leg of Cheltenham”.
Belfast man George Creighton was certainly showing no signs of a poor bank balance as his horse, Hurricane Fly, won the main race — the Rabobank Champion Hurdle — in a thrilling finish netting him and the horse’s co-owner, Rose Boyd, the top prize of €102,000.
“It’s fantastic. We’d planned going back to Belfast tonight but I think we’ll be staying locally now,” said Mr Creighton.
His smiles were matched by Hurricane Fly’s trainer, Willie Mullins, as the race gave him his ninth win at Punchestown this year and his fifth Grade 1 success.
The soft-spoken equine genius also landed a surprise 25/1 winner with Palace Merano in an earlier race yesterday — an even sweeter victory for any punters who place their trust and hard-earned money in the Carlow-based trainer.
“There are no owners here. That gives you some idea of our expectations,” laughed Mullins.
For followers of JP McManus and his horse, King John’s Castle, it was another grim day as the horse did a repeat performance of his recent Aintree Grand National antics by refusing to move off the start line — although most bookmakers again took pity and refunded bets.
Elsewhere, Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny was basking in the warm glow that comes with being opposition leader at a time of record unpopularity for the Government.
“It’s great for everybody to get out on a day like today. Anything to lift the depression and allow people enjoy themselves,” said Mr Kenny, who might have been less joyful as his top fancy, Kangaroo Court, fell in its race.
“I chose Kangaroo Court to do with the banking scandal. It’s my nap of the day,” explained the Fine Gael leader.
Kenny was pressing the flesh at a function hosted by the party in the company of other TDs, Phil Hogan, Billy Timmins and Bernard Durkan.
While Fianna Fáil politicians have often been criticised for attending race meetings when Leinster House is sitting, Mr Kenny proudly boasted how his colleague, James Bannon attended Punchestown on Wednesday and “shook hands with 1,400 Longford people before getting back to the Dáil to make two speeches”.
Another Longford man, former Taoiseach, Albert Reynolds, was unapologetic about being a big fan of Punchestown, although he proved a cautious gambler. “I’m looking for tips. And only from trainers and jockeys. Not politicians,” he laughed.
Mr Reynolds showed his reputation as a canny businessman by declaring how he was even unsure whether he would place any money on a horse owned by his son, Philip, called Stephanie Kate.
Minister for State Conor Lenihan was also taking time to study the form as he only arrived back in Ireland early yesterday morning after being stranded in Dubai while on a private holiday for the past week because of volcanic ash.
“However, I took on a few political engagements while I was out there,” he added hurriedly before any suggestions of sunbathing for Ireland could be aired.
Other familiar faces in the crowd were novelist, Cecilia Ahern and her partner David Geoghan; model and TV presenter Glenda Gilson; rugby TV pundit Brent Pope; Olympic boxing medallist Kenny Egan; and Boyzone duo Ronan Keating and Keith Duffy.
