A FLAVOUR of things to come perhaps as some of our leading jockeys staged a pre-transmission countdown to the start of The Galway Races.

“Roll those titles,” declared Ruby ‘Boss’ Walsh when satisfied that all his technical crew, including recently married cameraman Robert Power, were ready to rock.

“It’s all about to begin!” stated Robert Hall who, like greeting someone returned home to Ireland on holidays and asking them when they’re leaving, added, “in seven days it’ll all be over.”

This to the backdrop of sun at Ballybrit while we in the east, watching RTÉ’s coverage of the first day’s action on TV, looked out on the mizzle and rain that propelled us indoors. There was wind west of the Shannon however, drying out the ground rapidly as we were repeatedly advised, and blowing racecards, etc about on the “bit of a round table” being used by our knights, Robert and co-presenter Ted Walsh.

FULL SWING

The latter didn’t take long to get into full swing. “We’ve got to be careful of what we say as well too,” said the defender of free speech. “Poor old Peter Alliss got a bollocking off the BBC the other day for saying something ... we’ve got to be careful ... a long week!”

“I wonder how we’ll manage,” mused Hall to which, giving it some thought, Ted replied, “Oh, we’ll get through it. The Irish are not quite as offensive as the English.” Are we all agreed on that?

From the start, punters were on the offensive against the defensive bookmaker ranks and won the first engagement thanks to Ruby, Willie Mullins and Bachasson whose connections were turned out in their matching scarves. Jockey and trainer were willing to share their plans for the week but, as they mentioned nearly every horse entered, this information wasn’t as helpful as it might have been.

Robert Hall interviewed John Moloney, who is about to retire as manager of Galway and his son Michael who is about to take up the position. The latter was certainly on the offensive when Robert asked him about the local council’s development plan and the road set to cut through the track’s stableyard.

“It’s certainly very worrying for us ... We’re not very happy and very disappointed,” answered Michael who sympathised with those about to lose their homes because of the road.

Hopefully, not concerned about this are Co Galway residents and staunch track supporters Herb Stanley and his wife Emily who were interviewed by Tracy Piggott following the second successive win of their Beckwith Star in the Easyfix Rubber Products Handicap Hurdle. This was a good contest for racereader Richard Pugh to cut his Galway teeth on with its 20-runner field and head-bobbing finish.

WELD INTERVIEW

We had the first half of an interview with Dermot Weld by Robert Hall in which the Galway King spoke about the horses he had ridden and trained successfully at the track, singling out the 1990 winner Kiichi for special mention.

That piece was good as was Andrew McNamara’s interview of riders Jamie Codd, Derek O’Connor and Katie Walsh before their participation in the evening’s feature, the Connacht Hotel (QR) Handicap. However, these pieces eat into the time to see the horses; if we can have a split screen to show an advertisement for programme sponsor Boylesports, why not one continuously while the runners are in the parade-ring?

As to the big race itself, it produced a wonderful finish with Turlough Blessing’s Modem winning for the mother and daughter team of Jessica and Kate Harrington with Awesome Star, showing horses can carry still weight, a neck adrift in second and the favourite Ted Veale just half a length back in third.

“Well, it’s a great result for Kate Harrington, a little cracker is what she is, that’s what she is!” said a delighted Ted who, I feel, was in no way offensive to Kate or crackers.