HUGE congratulations to Paddy Woods who turned 90 on July 15th. Famously associated with Tom Dreaper, among many other roles, he was Arkle’s work rider at home. Emma MacDermott, sculptor of the Arkle bronze in Ashbourne, credits Paddy with a huge amount of help when she was sculpting the piece, for information on the special stance of Arkle and the seat of Pat Taaffe.

It has been a tough year for Paddy as he lost his wife Phyllis in January.

Their children are Eddie, Margaret, Siobhán, Suzanne, Francis, Ann, Elizabeth and Charlotte, some working and living abroad and some nearer his home in Ashbourne. Racing and bloodstock connections include Eddie being a leading consignor in the USA, Frannie is with Rathbarry Stud and Margaret is married to former jockey Ken Morgan.

Margaret reported: “Dad is absolutely fine and had been cocooning at home during lockdown. But last November he had to get a new hip and then he fell and had to get another one! He was in hospital at the same time as Con Power and you know racing people, the banter was non-stop. People around them couldn’t keep up at all!

“Normally Dad would be on the road, still driving as he does some work for GAIN feeds and I have to say the staff there have been incredibly kind to him, three or four of them ring him at least every second week, Joanne Hurley and her colleagues.

“And also the Guards near Greenouge – the squad car is a regular presence at Dad’s gate and they brought him chocolates and cards and kept a close eye – good people.

“We have some alpacas at our home and Dad loves them. Flossie de Burgh gave them to us to keep the grass down. They have life sorted – eat plenty, roam around, like to be petted and have no timeclock!”

Many happy days, Paddy.