Exclusive items in

Tiggy’s Trust auction

A TOUR of the Willie Mullins yard by the trainer himself is just one of the many items which will be auctioned online over the next two weeks in aid of Tiggy’s Trust, the foundation established in memory of young equestrian Tiggy Hancock.

The online auction is part of a huge fundraising drive which centres around the Cheltenham raceday on Friday, December 10th. Special packages including flights, transfers and race tickets are still available.

Other online auction items include a trip to Badminton Horse Trials, family holidays in Greece and Cornwall, and visits with top equestrians Cian O’Connor, Carl Hester and Joseph Murphy.

More information is available online and the auction starts next Wednesday, December 1st.

Web: tiggystrust.com

New Year’s Day plan

for Put The Kettle On

HENRY de Bromhead says last season’s Queen Mother Champion Chase winner Put The Kettle On is in line for a New Year’s Day outing at Fairyhouse, where she will go back up against her own sex after finishing third during the defence of her Shloer Chase crown at Cheltenham two weeks ago.

“I thought it was a similar run to last year in the Shloer, it was just the ground was a lot softer last year, which gave her a chance to come back at them,” de Bromhead said. “She seems good and, having discussed it with everyone, I’d say we’ll step her up in trip and run in the mares’ chase at Fairyhouse on New Year’s Day.”

Freewheelin Dylan

finally meets his fans

IRISH Grand National hero Freewheelin Dylan will get much deserved recognition when he is paraded at Fairyhouse tomorrow. Dermot McLoughlin’s nine-year-old won the National at 150/1 last April but did so in front of a largely empty racecourse as a result of Covid-19 restrictions.

Fairyhouse general manager Peter Roe said: “Freewheelin Dylan was a brilliant local winner of the BoyleSports Irish Grand National here last season. However, he came into an empty parade ring so for the owner Sheila Mangan and the trainer Dermot McLoughlin, we’re going to parade him just before the Porterstown (2.05), which is the only other race run over the Irish Grand National course and distance.”

HRI seeks new chief financial officer

HORSE Racing Ireland is seeking a new chief financial officer, to succeed Suzanne Eade who has been promoted to chief executive. According to the job specification, the CFO is “responsible for financial and IT strategic direction and will provide the commercial and financial leadership for HRI and its subsidiaries”.

More >>111

AIRO postpones NH Awards at Punchestown

THE Association of Irish Racehorse Owners has decided to postpone the presentation of its National Hunt awards until the spring, due to the increased number of Covid-19 cases. The awards were due to be presented at Punchestown on December 5th.

AIRO manager Regina Byrne said: “We will honour our commitment to sponsor the stable staff canteen on John Durkan day at Punchestown as promised. We’d like to thank our sponsors and guests for their patience.”