Cheltenham Day 2: Irish make the headlines on and off the course

From worst behaved to best dressed — you get all sorts flocking to Cheltenham.

The first two days of this year’s festival have made that much clear.

Yesterday may have been Ladies Day, but it broke with the unfolding story of men behaving badly. Footballers, to be precise, and one of our own was among those in the dock of public opinion after former Irish underage international Samir Carruthers had been pictured peeing into a plastic cup.

You probably know the rest by now. If you don’t, then let’s just say lucky you. By the time the racing got under way yesterday, the dregs of the story were being drained, with course officials confirming that steps had been taken to prevent a repeat.

The Gloucestershire Police labelled it “a disgusting and thoughtless act” but ruled out any further action, and, in fairness, you could argue that there are worse crimes perpetrated against fashion here by thousands of punters for whom sartorial taste can be as questionable as equine tips.

Someone with too much time on their hands — possibly the same person who rang the local constabulary for their two cents worth on Peegate — has apparently worked out that there is enough tweed worn here to stretch from the course all the way back to Ireland.

If only some of it could actually end up in the Irish Sea.

Thankfully, Yvonne McAvoy didn’t seem to be wearing any of it. It was the 41-year-old mother of four, from Dungannon in Tyrone, who picked up something in the region of £12,000 (€15,200) worth of prizes after impressing the judges in the annual best dressed stakes.

There was a distinct absence of information about her outfit from the course PR people yesterday — they are kinda busy with the racing and all, in fairness — so all we can tell you is that McAvoy wore a rather fetching green outfit with… a hat. Yes, there was definitely a hat.

This is the second straight year that the title has been taken back to our glorious isle. Jennifer Wrynne from Mohill in Leitrim scooped the award 12 months with another green outfit and, if memory serves, a resplendent hat which the milliner had fashioned herself.

Green dress. Hat. Hmmm, there’s a definite theme developing there…

You could have suggested the same about the racing after yesterday’s opener which saw Ruby Walsh partner the Willie Mullins-trained Yorkhill home first. It was the fourth win claimed in just two days by the star pair and with the fancied Un De Sceaux still to come.

Irish raiders were celebrating again within the hour with Diamond King coming good for the trainer/jockey pairing of Gordon Elliott and Davy Russell, but that’s where it ended for the visitors with the remaining five winners all being trained in English yards.

The Thursday hasn’t traditionally been a happy hunting ground for the Irish since the festival was expanded to four days, but there are decent shouts in three, maybe four, of the races on the card today, St Patrick’s Day.

That brings with it one guarantee: That of putrid suits, shamrock ties, and luminous hair, all in varying shades of hideous green. You see? From best dressed to worst. From sublime to ridiculous. There’s something for everyone at Cheltenham.