Earlier today, a jubilant team of stable staff at Willie Mullins’s Closutton yard accepted a cheque for €50,000 to be shared amongst them. This was as a result of an initiative established in 2016, by Nathaniel Lacy of Nathaniel Lacy & Partners Solicitors, which for the first time in Irish racing offered a bonus to benefit the people that work behind the scenes of horse racing.

In order for the bonus to be won, a horse had to win the Grade 2 Nathaniel Lacy & Partners Solicitors ‘€50,000 Cheltenham Bonus for Stable Staff’ Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown on BHP Insurance Irish Champion Hurdle Day and then go on to win any race at the Cheltenham Festival in the same year.

In 2016, the Nathaniel Lacy & Partners Solicitors Novice Hurdle was won by the then Mullins-trained A Toi Phil who unfortunately was not victorious at Cheltenham that year. However, it was second-time lucky for Team Mullins in 2017 when the talented Susannah Ricci owned mare Let’s Dance won the Nathaniel Lacy & Partners Solicitors Novice Hurdle in style at Leopardstown and then succeeded in winning the Trull House Stud Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival much to the delight of the Mullins team, whose celebratory cheers could be heard through the racecourse.

Nathaniel Lacy, Nathaniel Lacy & Partners Solicitors, commented: “We’re delighted that the "Nathaniel Lacy & Partners €50,000 Cheltenham Bonus for Stable Staff" was won by Let’s Dance, trained by W.P. Mullins, who triumphed at both Leopardstown and at Cheltenham. Stable Staff are paramount to our sport and Nathaniel Lacy & Partners Solicitors are delighted that this has benefited the grass roots of Irish Racing. We would like to thank Rich and Susannah Ricci, the owners of Let's Dance, Pat Keogh & Vicki Donlon together with all the team at Leopardstown Racecourse and Paddy Power Betfair for their immense support of this initiative.

Bernard Caldwell, Chairman of the Irish Stable Staff Association, commented: “The Irish Stable Staff Association were delighted when Nathaniel Lacy & Partners Solicitors introduced this initiative in 2016 and even more thrilled when it was won this year by the team at Mullins yard after Let’s Dance’s impressive victory in both races. The generous bonus has been well received by the industry and in particular the hard-working grooms who are an integral part of horseracing. ”

Holly Conte, Groom of Let’s Dance, commented: “We were so pleased when Let’s Dance won the Nathaniel Lacy & Partners Solicitors ‘€50,000 Cheltenham Bonus for Stable Staff’ Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown on January 29th, she is such a talented mare and we knew she had a promising future. When we found out about the potential €50,000 bonus if she won at Cheltenham we couldn’t believe our luck! I don’t think any horse received as much support as she did when she ran at Cheltenham and we were all elated when she won and delighted for Mr. and Mrs. Ricci who are incredible supporters of the yard! We would like to thank Nathaniel Lacy for kindly providing this generous bonus; the recognition of our industry is much appreciated.”