HUGE congratulations to Paddy Woods who turned 90 on July 15th. Famously associated with Tom Dreaper, among many other roles, he was Arkle’s work rider at home. Emma MacDermott, sculptor of the Arkle bronze in Ashbourne, credits Paddy with a huge amount of help when she was sculpting the piece, for information on the special stance of Arkle and the seat of Pat Taaffe.

It has been a tough year for Paddy as he lost his wife Phyllis in January.