IT’S a wet and windy raceday for the Ryanair Gold Cup at Fairyhouse, even stay at home punters get a sense of it from our RTE Racing team, well-wrapped but shivering by the end of the broadcast.
An injured Ruby joins Robert, Ted and Andy Mc and the track’s loss is our gain as Walsh as ever, gives great insight into horses and riding skills. In a pundit contest between Ruby and AP, we would have a clear winner.
His knowledge of form is top notch - correcting Ted when he suggests Pravalaguna is a bad jumper, reeling off her every run.
Best wishes are sent to Pat Smullen. Ruby reports him “mentally in a good place. I’ll have my €5 on Pat Smullen to win,” he states.
Ted is delighted for Eddie Cawley, winning with Nobodys Home. “Eddie’s a great man to support the game, himself and Oliver McKiernan are an inspiration, they love to take a few quid of the bookies.” The trainer passes on a word for his outsider, Forever Gold, in the National, did we listen?
On Sunday, we’ve a Glees-xit, Brian is banished to the far realms of the betting ring, only Leon Blanche keeps him brief company early on.
Before the Grade 2 hurdle, Ruby notes the new improved Pallasator, “They used to take 25 minute to get him down to the start.” Afterwards Davy Russell deflects praise. “All credit to the team, the job they have done with this horse,” praising Keith Donoghue in particular.
As Gordon and Willie dominate the jumps scene, the question is asked, what makes them so good? Ruby, having also worked with Paul Nicholls has no definite answer.
“Where’s the detail? Where’s the magic? The more I look at it, it’s a pure art. There’s no definition, no equation, they train with their eye.”
Tracy catches up with Eddie O’Leary, “Michael’s not here, he’s in Disneyworld,” “He’s not dressed up as Mickey Mouse?” Tracy suggests.
Before the race, the wandering miss-nothing camera catches the Elliott team in a huddle out on track. All eyes are on a blue plastic bag, passed from Mouse O’Ryan’s pocket into Ian Amond, “a bag of cash!” Robert and Ted wonder. Never mind the race. .we are left wondering – what’s in the bag!
GRAND NATIONAL
Monday brings more inclement weather, Tracy chats to Brendan Sheridan who gives credit to Noel Fanning and the track staff and recalls it’s 30 years ago since he won on Perris Valley. In 1990, he was second on Barney Burnett. “Desert Orchid made a bad mistake at the last, everyone was delighted he stood up, I wasn’t!” he recalls.
“We haven’t got it right in 20 years!,” Willie Mullins says when reminded of his first National runner. Ruby also takes time to praise the team in Closutton. “The effort they made to go to work was incredible during the snow. It was a labour of love, they deserve whatever they’re getting.
Brian Gleeson has more company today and despite the rain, gets about in the ring looking for National fancies. Martin with Colm White and Seamus Mulvany are soaked, Brian Graham’s on the computers, tracking figures like a “stock exchange”
Renneti is the source of amusement before the start of the next. “If he had to stop, he won’t get him going...he’s goosed,” Ruby says of Danny Mullins’s unwilling partner. “They had to send a horsebox down a few years ago to take him back!” You can bring a horse to the start but... The lads agree that if a horse does not go through the start, he should be withdrawn as a non runner.
Tracy meets the Best Dressed Lady winner Michelle Fallon from Newbridge, dressed in a 1900 equestrian, My Fair Lady style.
Conditions are difficult for the National, fallers in the pack, colours and any distinguishing marks are obliterated by muck, Tony O’Hehir struggles manfully on. “Lost a few at that one,” covers the fallers until jockeys rise, and the finish, with five within two lengths needs a second look to fit all the placings.
Tracy catches up with winning part owner, Eddie O’Leary, Michael he assures, did get to see the race, even if he was on Thunder Mountain! Andy notes “Thunder Mountain would have been a lot safer than the carnage going on here!” All came back safe and sound though.