NATIONWIDE, which goes out next Wednesday March 16th at 7pm on RTÉ One, will feature a piece on the Irish influence at where else but Cheltenham. During the programme the team visited Kim Bailey’s yard just outside the town where he employs three staff from Ireland; Shane Collins from Listowel is head lad, Sinead Burke from Gleinbeigh in Kerry works as a stable lass and the infamous Liam Higgins known as ‘Higgs’ is the groundsman/work rider but tended to be camera shy.

The crew also visited Cheltenham Racecourse and spoke to Ian Renton, boss of the Cotswolds shrine, about his prep for the festival and the importance of the Irish racegoers who pour into this genteel corner of England.

And if life feels a bit flat after the festival is over well the programme also looked at Cheltenham as a tourist destination and met Irish business people working and living in Cheltenham who have excelled there. You could get a few ideas.