TYPICALLY, when there no need for the Megahey family to rush back to the Tattersalls International Horse Trials, their Barclay Communications race evening at Down Royal is taking place a week earlier this year on Friday next, May 26th.

The Belfast-based provider of business mobile, landline and digital solutions was founded in 1997 so Friday’s meeting will mark their 20th ‘birthday’ with an all-National Hunt card on which the feature races are the €20,000 WorkPal Handicap Hurdle over three miles and the four furlongs shorter Barclay 20th Anniversary Rated Novice Chase. The concluding two-mile bumper is being run under the banner of Glenpatrick Sport Horses and today the Megaheys are hosting an Eventing Ireland one-day at their Templepatrick yard of the same name.

Although the family is no longer seriously involved in eventing, now being more show jumping orientated, they will be keeping an eye on Cornascriebe Glenpatrick who, having been sold by them at the Goresbridge Go For Gold Sale last November, is returning for the CCI1* at Tattersalls under his new British rider, Millie Dumas.

As usual, Barclay Communications will be holding a collection at the Down Royal turnstiles on Friday for the Jonjo Bright Trust, a cause for which the firm has already raised over £10,000.

Next Friday’s fixture is the first of five evening meetings scheduled to be held at the track this summer and the management team has produced a high-quality colour brochure to promote these.