GALWAY ON TV

DAY two of the Galway 2017 coverage begins with shots of Ruby Walsh walking the track with daughters Isabelle and Elsa. You know this meeting is a lot more fun than Cheltenham.

Robert Hall reminds us that Penhill struggled to win the opening novice hurdle last year and went on to win the Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham. That may be the target for tonight’s winner Housesofparliament. “We’ll find out a lot about him today,” Joseph O’Brien noted before the race, and we find out he’s tough and likes jumping – not bad for a St Leger third.

“You feeling good?’’ Tracy asks Barry Geraghty after the opening success. “Ah sure, I’m riding winners, you’ll always feel good,” is the reply.

The #AskTeds are as diverse as ever. “Love Island or Ear to the Ground?” “Oh, Ear to the Ground by a mile!” The love comes later!

Pat Keogh and the team will be happy with the reply to what’s your favourite racecourse? “I like a lot of them, but Leopardstown, to ride in, have a runner in or go racing, for me Leopardstown is the bees knees.”

Next we see the old film of a young Jack Kennedy at 10 years old in his first year pony racing with his pony A Pair Of Jacks, telling it as it was “He’s smaller than the rest of them, he probably won’t win.” Better not be so honest to Michael O’Leary!

“It’s lovely to come home and ride a winner at Galway,” Noel Fehily tells Tracy after Three Wise Men gives the Mees another Galway winner.

Some more Ted questions follow. “Are you and Robert friends or is it strictly professional?” “We’re lovers!” and Robert gets a kiss for good measure!

We’re back to the T.J. Reid v Mikey Fogarty head to head, or chin to chin ups this time. Mikey has the best technique and takes a 2-1 lead.

In the final strength test iron man Mikey wins it all by a metre. “He’s after embarrassing me here in his own gym.” T. J. admits defeat.

We’re still in the hurling camps and Ollie Canning and soccer star Stephen Hunt took part in the Zorbing Derby for the IJF. Ollie won and is hoping it’s an omen for Sunday. “Making of a fantastic game...with only a point or two in it.”

Sally Ann catches up withRobbie McNamara before Cascavelle runs in the next. What would it mean to have a winner? “A good night out! I’d love to have a winner a Galway,” he says.

Robbie’s first Galway winner is greeted with widespread delight. Tracy, however, is beaten half a length to the first interview by Gerry McDonogh of Galway Bay FM. She’s none too happy, caught in the background. It’s lucky the microphone is not live!

Billy Lee is “delighted to ride a winner for Robbie, we know each other since kids running around the place.”

Jim Bolger tells Marty Morrissey about the build up to the Hurling for Cancer match to be held in St Conleith’s Park in Newbridge on August 15th.

Brian Cody is not impressed with Marty’s efforts nor is Lee Chin. Davy Fitz has comes out of retirement, and has to do what he’s told. “I got no choice, if Jim says you have to go in goals, you go in goals!” There’s no messing with someone who had raised €540,000 in five years.

Matt Chapman calls Declan McDonogh ‘the Enforcer’ and he sure enforced his will on steering Riven Light though a gap to win the Mile. Not so much as thou shalt not pass as, thou shalt not get in my way as Marshall Jennings is pushed aside.

As we close for another evening ahead of Galway Plate day, Brian looks forward and reminds us, not of that oft used bookmaker cry, “three chances”, but whisper it, Henry’s got… “six chances!”