LOOKS like that feverish demand for all things Cheltenham is mounting as an estimated 350 people attended the Cheltenham preview night in Barberstown Castle in Straffan, Co Kildare, last Friday week.

Over €10,000 was raised on the evening for Irish Injured Jockeys. Two sets of All Ireland Final tickets went for €2,000 each and a Rachael Blackmore/Honeysuckle signed print fetched €1,000.

Davy Russell sang a few versions of Don’t Look Back In Anger by Oasis (you can find the video on his Twitter account under retweets). This was prompted by Davy’s comment that if Wonderwall won at Cheltenham, he would go outside naked and sing a song by Oasis. Is there no end to the man’s talents? What’s in store after Davy hangs up his boots? The night’s running joke was Davy claiming not to know where most of Gordon’s horses were running. He was particularly tight-lipped on Buddy Rich, Top Bandit and Party Central.

Quotes from the night:

Gary O’Brien: “Ruby, with regard to Facile Vega, is there anything in the race which can beat him?”

Ruby: “No!”

Ruby: “I don’t have any interest in coming out of retirement but I would come back to ride Galopin Des Champs at Cheltenham.”

Shishkin’s luck

Ruby on Shishkin: “He just needs average luck to win the Champion Chase. Not good luck. He just needs to get down to the start and avoid any bad luck and he’ll win.”

Ruby on the Stayers’ Hurdle: “The best bet in this race is that there will be a false start. They have to walk a furlong in front of the stands before they get to the starter and with Klassical Dream and Flooring Porter there, I’d be pretty sure there will be a false start.”

Davy Russell (in a Kevin Keegan accent): “I would love, love, love, love it if I rode Tiger Roll in the Cross Country. But I don’t know if I will.”

Charity bets courtesy of Fitzwilliam Racing