Irish get sublime start as McAleese checks in
And afterwards, elated winning owner Hennessy revealed he has another claim to fame.
“I own a firm which makes hearing aids called Bonavox,” he said.
“Some years ago, a schoolfriend of Bono, a fellow called Guggie Rowan, told Paul Hewson he should adopt a stage name and mentioned my company name and he became ‘Bono’.
“I’ve never met him, but the name has been lucky for both of us,” said Mr Hennessy.
He and his friends had backed Sublimity at 600/1 — the horse came in yesterday at 16/1.
As she left the winners’ enclosure the President was mobbed by delighted Irish punters.
Asked if she was having a good day she remarked: “It’s my first time here. Why wouldn’t I enjoy it with sunshine and Irish winners.”
It capped a magnificent day for the Irish, when the Celtic raiders carried off three of five races they contested, including a historic first with brother and sister Phillip and Nina Carberry both winning races.
Phillip rode Champion Hurdler winner Sublimity while Nina steered Heads on the Ground home first in the cross-country chase for trainer Enda Bolger.
Ireland’s other winner came in the Supreme Novices, with Davy Condon driving Willie Mullins’s Ebaziyan home in a thrilling finish.
But as the day wore on a tantalising question hung over the madding betting ring.
A million pound question.
Would the quiet man from Co Limerick, JP McManus, accept the challenge of Scottish bookie, Freddie Williams?
He laid out a pre-meeting war cry that he was eager to take the first million-pound single bet of racing history.
Down in the ring, Williams, 64, said: “I’m still up for it.”
Asked what odds he would offer on a million pound bet being struck at the meeting, he said: “Evens. I am quite sure I will be the first to take a million bet. I do take chances and it could be this year that I will take the bet. It depends on the circumstances. When you walk through the front gates of Cheltenham you expect anything to happen.”
Meanwhile, JP was keeping his powder dry up in his lofty turret in the main stand.
Down in the ring, Jodie Fitzmaurice from Moyvane in Kerry was celebrating even before the first race went off.
As a warm-up, the Cheltenham organisers ran a number of greyhound races up the final two furlongs.
And when it comes to greyhounds, the Kerry boys know a thing or two.
Jodie said: ‘‘I put £20 on Dropys Top and he came in at 7/2. It’s my first winner at the meeting and it turns out to be a greyhound. But who’s complaining?”
Jack Leahy from Foynes had his mind on Aintree.
Jack, 56, runs two pubs, one in London next door to Tottenham Hotspur and the other just down the road from Cheltenham at Ross on Wye.
He said: “I am negotiating the lease on a third pub at Aintree and I want to move in before the Grand National meeting as there are seven bedrooms on the premises.”
Jack’s pub at Ross on Wye, one of the many village gems in the Coltswolds, does not do B&B but being the generous host he is, Jack had “lots of bodies” on the premises last night.
He said: “We are just a few minutes from Cheltenham. It’s great to have all the lads from west Limerick over.”
One guest this week is Michael Fitzsimons, who started out in the licensed trade in England as head barman in the House of Commons.
Michael, who now runs a pub in London, having recently sold his pub in Foynes, said: “Cheltenham is just too irresistible to resist.”
The Celtic Tiger means that the vast majority of Irish punters are holed up in a galaxy of multi-star hotels.
But Colin Synan rolled into town early yesterday clutching his trusty old bodhrán and a rucksack which contained a tent.
“I’ll try and pitch it in some quiet spot away from the gaze of the constabulary. Hopefully, the bodhrán will drum up enough shillings to pay for the overheads,” said Colin.
She never made the trip to Cheltenham, but Carrigtwohill, Co Cork, woman Mags Carey, who is a huge race fan, yesterday had no regrets.
“I’m probably making more here than I would over there,” she said after she won 50/1 on Ebaziyan, 40/1 on Joes Edge and 16/1 on Sublimity.
Ms Carey had placed just three €5 each way bets on all three winners for a payout of over €600.
A GREAT day for the Irish — me eye.
I went for JP’s horses all day and then managed to get it wrong in the second last, when I backed Spot the Difference, which carried the McManus first colours in preference to Heads on the Ground with Nina Carbery on board.
* Started with £20 win on the Tote, Wins Now. Didn’t win or go anywhere near winning.
* Tried to push my luck in the second with Don’t Push It. Another £20 added to the Tote’s profit margin.
* JP’s champion hurdle hope, Straw Bear, carried another £20 down the Swannie.
* And to add salt to my wounds got the colours right in the cross country but the wrong horse.
Net score after day one: Woulfe minus £80.
