IT IS the day after Our Duke skittled a field of 28 to plunder the richest prize in Irish jump racing, the Boylesports Irish Grand National. As son-in-law of victorious trainer Jessica Harrington – his wife Emma is an integral part of the flourishing Commonstown Stables operation and he has been around the inner sanctum a long time as a result – Richie Galway might have been expected to be a little the worse for wear.

But as we meet out at Punchestown on Tuesday afternoon, it is clear that he is operating on full steam. It’s not that there wasn’t a party. There was, and it was a good one, but Galway was on designated driver duties, so the head is clear.

He actually sat on Our Duke before the Coopers’ imposing pride and joy appeared on a racecourse for the first time. This may have been the secret ingredient in the son of Oscar’s development and he may tell his grandkids that. He knows though, that it is down to the expertise of the Harrington team and in particular, the patience Jessica has shown in allowing her charge the time to grow.

Galway had a ringside seat as Sizing John won the Gold Cup and Rock The World completed an incredible week for the Moone-based crew, Supasundae having triumphed the day before. They enjoyed their first ever treble on the flat at Cork last Saturday and then Our Duke made them the toast of Fairyhouse.

“Jessie went through tough times when she had a bad injury and hurt her back and they weren’t fashionable for a while, were down on numbers and things were tight, but she always got to Cheltenham with a horse,” says Galway with obvious admiration for the woman who is now the most successful female trainer at jump racing’s Olympics, with 11 winners.

“After Moscow (Flyer) it became Mac’s Joy, then it became Jezki – there’s always been one to go there. She doesn’t tend to mind whether it’s flat or jumps, she just loves horses. They’re her hobby. Her holidays tend to involve horses. She’s gifted. She trains by eye. They do the basics and they always have done. You see horses coming to Jessie’s – I’ve been there from the time I was going out with Emma and riding out there – and when they get to the place, they are healthy and happy. They seem to settle and thrive in the environment.”

Emma is responsible for the financial and general administration workings for a number of years now, having taken on those considerable responsibilities after a stint trading on the American stock market. Kate has returned to the fold now too as assistant and is a key advisor when it comes to the horses themselves. Galway emphasises the role of the girls’ late father Johnny.

“Jessie is still the boss. It’s a fair dynamic that the three of them are able to work together. People underestimated the role Johnny played. He nurtured it, he developed it and allowed Jessie to play to her strengths. He supported her hugely, gave her confidence and she would admit that. It was the same with Emma and Kate. He nurtured them and gave them every opportunity to go their way. Look, they argue every day, but they’re very close-knit and it works.

“Jessie would never look at what the bank balance was. It would never bother her if she had no money. What would bother her is if she had no horses. Once she has horses to look after, she’s happy and she gets as much enjoyment I think from some of the slower ones. She sees them as a challenge.”

50TH ANNIVERSARY

And she loves Punchestown. Remarkably, Harrington is celebrating the 50th anniversary this year of riding for Ireland at the venue in the European Eventing Championships, alongside her late brother, John Fowler – the first brother and sister to compete together at that level.

“She had a fantastic festival (in 2014) which wasn’t expected, just a month after Johnny died. It was fairly emotional. Surreal. Everything went right. Some of the horses that won were not expected to be at the level that they were racing. Jezki winning was fantastic. Jetson beating Quevega in the Stayers’ Hurdle – that’s how racing works now and again.”

Galway has been racing manager at Punchestown since March 1999 and has contributed to a remarkable rise in fortunes for the track and its festival in the meantime. Of course with concerts, conferences and a slew of other events being hosted by the venue, diversity is the name of the game at times and he really enjoys that about the place – a small, dedicated team pulling out all the stops to make things work under the smiling, empowering leadership of Dick O’Sullivan.

“He’s a brilliant motivator, a brilliant delegator and he’s completely supportive of everything you do once you do something. His point all through the time he has been here is -‘If you do something, if you’re progressive, if you try something, I’ll not knock ya, I’ll back ya.’ And that gives all of the team great comfort to know that. It allows you to try and do stuff, that you’re not going to get chewed when something goes wrong, which it does at times.

“He’s a breath of fresh air. A great positive man. He treats everyone that works for him as family and pals. He’s not a boss. It’s a democracy.”

We are speaking in the newly-kitted out media centre that is a major step forward on the temporary facility that the visiting media worked in before now. It is part of a significant upgrading that has been carried out as part of a planned €6m investment. Also completed are works on kitchens, toilets and the repair of structural issues on the stand.

More visible to members of the public is the metamorphosis that has taken place in the stands themselves, around the bars and restaurants specifically. Now there is an ambience of warmth and relaxation. There is also a clear identity with differing themes depending on the area you’re in. As well as that, there is more space.

WELCOMING SURROUNDINGS

The dividends might not necessarily be reaped next week, when the crowds will flock anyway. But members of the public would certainly be more inclined to return in the knowledge that they can enjoy a convivial day of hospitality, just as they would if they went to their favourite bar or restaurant. It is a level of detail, style and comfort that is not available to everyday punters at any other racecourse in the land. It is about more than having a drink or something to eat. It’s about doing it in welcoming surroundings.

“In 1998 they spent €6m and they got an awful lot done with not a huge amount of money at that time but there were definitely restrictions. So they built the old grandstand onto the back of viewing steps that were there since 1960. Some of the basic things now when you think about it, that were compromised, was that at no place in the stand, can you see the racetrack. So we tried to just improve access out on the stand, we refurbished it, furnished it properly with a bit of detail and Shona (Dreaper) was crucial to that.

“Punchestown has a great tradition of racing since the 1800s. It wasn’t reflected in the finish and everything we’re doing now, we’re trying to reflect on that history and tradition around the place, the horses and people that have come through here.”

There is around €4m remaining and a significant portion of that will be used to build a new stand for members of the general public that will also include a permanent owners’ and trainers’ facility. It is projected that construction will begin on that project in June and conclude in time for the 2018 festival.

A landscape project is also planned to increase the welcoming vibe and add to the sense of identity once people come through the turnstiles. It is hoped that it will scream Punchestown and provide a feeling of arrival in a way that is similar to entering Churchill Downs in Kentucky or the Augusta National golf course.

SOCIAL EVENT

“When I was younger, racing was a place where you went to bet on horses. That’s changing. It’s now a social event. There is betting but it’s an entertainment venue where people have an expectation of a level of comfort comparable with other venues and events in the same and different sectors. When you look at what some of the tracks have done and you see the level of facilities like Cheltenham, where they’ve done a great job, there’s definitely a benchmark that you have to try and match.

“We have changed the product. Fifteen years ago, if you wanted to watch a race, you came to the races. Now, why would I go on a wet Sunday in February when it’s on At The Races? Unless the level of facilities we have here matches what you have at home, you probably won’t. But I really do think if we get what we plan finished properly it gives us huge impetus to strengthen the position and develop the place further.

“The racing here, I think, is brilliant and that is the one thing through the last 10 or 15 years that we haven’t let slip.

“We went through a period of time where we’d no spare capital funding to invest in anything but the one thing, and to be fair to Dick, it was his number one priority; don’t skimp on the track. If you look at a race from any of the pre-2000 festivals and look at the expanse of ground we raced on then and the expanse of ground we race on now, you couldn’t compare it. It’s been expanded and improved upon unbelievably.

“The other thing is prizemoney and that’s been done with the help of HRI, who’ve been unbelievable. Our festival prize fund this year is €2.9m, up from €2.5m. Twelve Grade 1s. But that needs to keep going. That never stops.”

Can it keep rising?

“I hope it can. In general, we’re well treated in Ireland if you compare it with what goes on in the UK any day of the week. Lucky enough, I’ve seen the other side of it. Myself and Emma own a few horses with Jessie and we buy and sell a few. I know it makes it a little bit easier given the level of prizemoney there is, but I’d like to think that in the long term, if you have a horse in training here that can win a race at that lower level, it should cover your cost for a year.

“That would make it easier to get syndicates, to get smaller owners involved. If you can say to guys ‘if you win a race this year, you’ll be able to wash your face’ that makes it easier to justify. Whereas at the moment, you have to win one and a half, or two races. And it’s not simple to win one race.”

In time, Galway would like to see the model developing whereby Punchestown has more of a stake in what happens on site once people pay their admission.

“I think in a place like this it’s important for us to try and maximise our return from areas of spend on the track. It’s a bit of an issue that to some degree, you come racing and pay us an admission fee and that’s only part of your spend but it’s all of your spend with us. So when you’re on the track, you’re buying food, you’re buying drink or you’re betting and we’d like to think that we could take more of an involvement in the business that happens on our track.”

LOOKING FORWARD TO NEXT WEEK

There is a lot to look forward to next week. The race for the trainers’ championship between Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott offers a new dynamic and adds to the narrative of each race.

“Willie and Gordon have to be given huge respect for how they’ve both treated the championship rivalry. They’re huge competitors. This is Man U and Chelsea but they have shown so much respect for each other throughout the season. I think how they’ve handled each other is a credit to them and great for the sport we have. So I hope that people enjoy that and I hope it runs down to Saturday, and irrespective of who wins, they’re both special trainers the likes of which we haven’t seen.

“Willie’s had greater success here than anyone… He won €900,000 in prizemoney last year and Gordon won €150,000 or thereabouts. So it’ll definitely come down to the wire. Willie has strong entries through the week, the return of Annie Power as well. Gordon obviously has bypassed Aintree as well with Apple’s Jade and all the rest of the team he has and it’s great to have that to focus on at the end of the season.

“Willie has never made any secret of the fact that he enjoys Punchestown. He loves coming here. The easiest thing for any of them again would be after Cheltenham to shut up shop and think about next year. But he brings out all the big guns year in, year out. He has gone out of his way to support Punchestown and send everyone.

“That means a huge amount that he sends the Hurricane Flys, the Faugheens, the Annie Powers, Un De Sceauxes – if you didn’t have those stars, you’ve nothing to build upon.”

In terms of individual contests, the highlight for many will be the Coral Punchestown Gold Cup, which will see Sizing John taken on by 2015 Gold Cup winner Coneygree and Djakadam. The fact that the Bradstocks are willing to bring Coneygree over at the end of the season, having had an injury lay-off is a key element of the Punchestown Festival.

“That’s what differentiates this festival. The fact that Nicky (Henderson) will bring over a team, that David Pipe will bring over a team, Harry Fry now will come along, Dan Skelton – they’re all coming. We’ll have 50 or 60 English runners.”

Henderson’s travelling party will include Sprinter Sacre, who is now retired of course, but proved such a hit when winning the Boylesports Champion Chase in 2013. The reception received by the superstar had a profound effect on connections, which is why they agreed to bring the horse back to parade in front of a knowledgeable audience.

“Has there been a day like it? Nicky is bringing him over to parade next week which we’re delighted about. It was a special day when he won here. Again, that reminded you of what Irish National Hunt racegoers are about. I know it was a hard-fought win but Nicky and the Moulds just couldn’t get over it. People were going up to thank them for bringing him over, before he even ran. It just reflected so well on the country and on the industry. They said it was the best day they had with him.”

It is one of Galway’s own standout memories, along with Risk Of Thunder’s heroics in winning the La Touche Cup seven times and the noise as On The Fringe completed the Cheltenham-Aintree-Punchestown treble for the second year in a row last season.

Next week promises to add to the lore, for at Punchestown, the striving for new levels is as enduring as the track itself.