PUNCHESTOWN’S commercial manager Conor O’Neill pulled off a shock win in this week’s election to find a new chair of the Association of Irish Racecourses.

O’Neill was up against Kilbeggan manager Paddy Dunican, who had held the vice-chair position for eight years and who most observers expected would succeed outgoing chair John Moloney in the top job.

The AIR chair heads the all-important media rights committee, which negotiates the sale of Irish racing pictures to the betting industry and home viewers.

Pending the Minister for Agriculture’s approval, the AIR chair represents racecourses on the board of Horse Racing Ireland and on the Fixtures Committee.

O’Neill’s four-year term as chair is not due to start until December 18th and it could be early 2019 before his appointment to the HRI board is ratified.

Voting this week was by secret ballot with each racecourse casting one vote. One racecourse manager, who asked not to be identified, said: “Conor only threw his hat into the ring six weeks ago and he must have been 1,000/1. He’s not even the first or second in command at Punchestown. Dick O’Sullivan [Punchestown manager] helped his campaign but it was assumed that Paddy Dunican had enough votes to win. It seems that some people changed their minds when they went to vote.”

Another manager commented: “This is a very unusual development. It’s true that Conor has relatively light mileage on the clock but he has been an AIR director since his time as manager of Limerick Racecourse and I wouldn’t underestimate the part played by Dick O’Sullivan in this result.”

O’Neill told The Irish Field: “It’s definitely a huge honour to represent the 26 racecourses throughout Ireland and I would certainly like to thank everybody that made that possible for their support.”

He paid tribute to John Moloney, whose eight-year term ends in December. “John has been a fantastic advocate for racecourses and has made a tremendous contribution to the association. I would like to take this opportunity to wish John every continued success, I will certainly have big boots to fill although it is a challenge which I will relish.

“I’m very fortunate to have newly elected vice-chair John Flannelly from Ballinrobe Racecourse, together with an extremely experienced and capable board of directors, and the executive of AIR working alongside me.

“Together we will endeavour to continue the hard work and positive progress the association has made to date for the benefit of each of the 26 racecourses throughout Ireland and indeed the industry as a whole.”

Meanwhile, Joe Keeling has agreed to stay on as Horse Racing Ireland chairman until his replacement is appointed. Keeling was due to step down on March 19th with owner-breeder Nicky Hartery tipped as his successor. A Department of Agriculture spokesperson said: “The current chairperson will remain in place until a replacement has been appointed. The Public Appointments Service are currently working on the appointment process. It is hoped it will be completed in the coming weeks.”