CHARLIE Flanagan is looking forward to the Leopardstown Christmas Festival, where he will be the farrier on duty in the saddling area. He also works at Bellewstown and his local track of Fairyhouse, where he has acted as farrier since 1973.

Farriery is a trade that seems to pass from one generation to the other. Charlie had a great teacher in his father, Jim, who shod Arkle and all the greats of that era in Greenogue Stables. “He looked after seven consecutive Irish National winners,” says Charlie, who has put shoes on a few top horses himself over the years.

“I remember Arkle, and I might have dressed his feet one day but I never shod him,” he says. However, Charlie’s first Irish National winner wasn’t too long in coming around.

“I started at Fairyhouse in February 1973 and one of the horses I had to put plates on was Tartan Ace. He went to win three races on the trot and still got into the National off 9st 7lb and won.”

Four years later he told his ageing father he was about to shoe his first Cheltenham Gold Cup winner, Bannow Rambler. “My father said ‘That horse won’t win, he has terrible feet!’” In any event, the hot favourite was brought down. Jim Flanagan died in 1981 but the legacy continues as both Charlie and his brother Jim followed in their father’s footsteps.

Charlie’s nephew is Brian Flanagan, sports editor and racing writer with the Irish Daily Star, so the family connection with the sport will continue for a good while yet.

Charlie also put shoes on Omerta when Martin Pipe sent him across to win the Irish National in 1991 and he will never forget the 2009 running, won by another English raider in Niche Market.

“I had gone home after the last race on Easter Sunday, only to be called back to the racecourse that evening. Niche Market must have travelled badly because he had spread both his hind shoes and it was shaky whether he would be able to race or not. Anyway, I got him sorted out and he went on to give Harry Skelton his first big winner as a jockey. He was only 19.”

Triple Group 1 winner Kooyonga was the best flat horse Charlie shod but he admits he prefers the jumps. “I just know more of the older people in jump racing and I suppose it goes back to the connection with the Dreaper yard which got me into racing in the first place.”

Francis Casey is one of the few trainers Charlie has as a client and he believes Francis deserves more horses.

Charlie follows the careers of all the horses he shoes and even their progeny. He was delighted to see Palace Rock finish an eyecatching second in a Dundalk maiden last Friday night for Francis. “I shod his mother!” he says, paraphrasing Ted Walsh.

Both Charlie and Francis had great teachers in their late fathers. Charlie also served his time with farrier Andy Mahon, whose son and namesake has carried on the tradition.

Being a farrier today is easier than in the old days. “Shoes are lighter and are factory-made. It’s rare you’d have to make a special one. The horses are quieter too. They go to the sales a few times now and are better handled. Even the yearlings are nearly broke. It’s not like years back when you had to try and catch them in the field.”

Among the many young horses Charlie has looked after was Darver Star, placed in two Champion Hurdles last season. Breeder Pat Cluskey also called on Charlie to shoe Darver Star’s close relation who sold as Lot 317 at Goffs this week (see pages 28-31).

Covid-19 has not changed Charlie’s routine too much. “I have to remember to register the day before racing, get their early and wear a mask, but other than that everything is the same.”

He says he can usually get to see the races and follows the sport closely. When we spoke this week, Charlie was watching racing on television at home. Once travel restrictions ease, he is looking forward to going on a few racing trips with friends. “We have a racing club and about a dozen of us head across the water for a meeting now and again. We’ve done Newbury, Fontwell, Ayr and Perth. Just local lads and we have a few drinks.”