Kenny champing at the bit at stylish Fairyhouse

Business was booming with a bumper crowd at Grand National Monday at Fairyhouse — with cash flying and a visit from Taoiseach Enda Kenny.

The Taoiseach and his wife Fionnuala arrived mid-afternoon and he later met the jockeys lining up for the Grand National before taking questions in the parade ring.

After revealing he was going to have a flutter on the big race, he praised the Irish horse-racing industry, revealed he had chatted with Ruby Walsh in the weigh room, and said he was relieved that Fairyhouse didn’t have to be called off due to bad weather.

Asked about the upcoming insolvency guidelines, Kenny said: “This is Ireland, not the Soviet Union. We have to deal with all of the greed from the past. All these stories are floating around but no pressure is being put on anybody. However, there are 100,000 people in mortgage distress, and the new insolvency agency will sit down with people and discuss their affairs and help them.”

The bookies’ takings were down 14% on last year at €698,555, but the Tote was up 24% at €440,999.

Earlier, style gurus Rosanna Davison and Brendan Courtney picked primary school teacher Caroline Hassett as the Most Stylish Lady at the event.

Caroline 31, from Annagassan, Co Louth, was delighted, picking up a prize worth €8,000 courtesy of the Carton House Hotel. Her outfit was a heady mix of purple and cream.

She revealed: “I can’t believe it. I picked the outfit from the Olle & Mac boutique in Navan. I’d say my pupils are too young to register it, but you never know.”

The event had a purple theme to it, and when all the hopefuls gathered in a special tent, it briefly looked like a convention of air hostesses.

The winner was announced by RTÉ’s Maura Derrane, who sported an outsized hat herself.

Rosanna later revealed how she may be doing another topless photo shoot for Playboy. She said: “I’m also going over to the Playboy Mansion in LA to meet Hugh Hefner later this year. I hope to bring a camera crew along and make a documentary out of it. My fiancé Wes also wants to come, but he just wants to watch the Playmates.”

The Grand National was won by Liberty Counsel at 50/1 — the longest-priced winner ever.

A crowd of 15,125 people attended yesterday’s meet, up 14.5% on last year’s attendance.