Front door shuts on bookies at Fairyhouse

Yesterday’s bank holiday race meeting in Fairyhouse was a real turn-up for the books — or should that be for the bookies?

After a promising start for the first three races at the sun-soaked track, luck suddenly favoured the punters — especially when the Grand National winner Shutthefrontdoor romped home at the price of 8/1.

Up to then, the bookies had been on a roll, after a great day on Easter Sunday and the first three races yesterday yielding them rich pickings.

But little did they know that their dominance was soon to wain and luck was about to favour the common man and woman enjoying a day at the races.

Shutthefrontdoor is owned by JP MacManus, was trained by Jonjo O’Neill, and ridden by Barry Geraghty, whose family live in the area and are steeped in racing.

It lined the pockets of those canny enough to back it in an exciting race which saw Golden Wonder as a real challenge up to the very end.

Most stylish lady Catherine Lundon, Mullingar.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny later entered the parade ring to present a trophy to the winners and was in flying form when he arrived at the track.

He said he would be placing several bets on the horses and was delighted to pose for pictures with punters and admirers.

He also said he had no truck with opinion polls and did not take them seriously.

He said he received several tips within minutes of arriving at Fairyhouse and would be investigating some of them.

He posed with ex-Miss World Rosanna Davison and fashion king Brendan Courtney, who both judged the Carton House Most Stylish Lady competition.

It was won by Catherine Lundon, from Mullingar, who wore a stylish gold-themed ensemble. ‘All That Glitters Is Gold’ had been the theme for the day.

Amy Kehoe, Niamh Gribben, Newry, and Louise Meegan, right, Silverbridge, enjoying the races.

A captain in the Irish army who is station in Cathal Brugha barracks in Dublin, she said she never expected to win the €8,000 voucher for a stay in the luxury Carton House for two.

She said she would be bringing her mother along for the pampering session.

Also in attendance were Bill Cullen and Jackie Lavin who sponsored one of the races, although motor man Bill admitted that he had never placed a bet on a horse in his life.

The crowd attendance was up on last year, with 16,253 people in attendance yesterday. This was up by some 1,100 on the same day last year.

Bookies’ revenue at Fairyhouse for Easter Monday was €799,213.