CON Marnane was honoured with the Racing Personality Award at the Irish Racehorse Owners Awards last weekend (see page 14-16) and, true to form, the Bansha House Stables boss had some good lines for the crowd.

Talking about how he developed his Co Tipperary property, Con said: “I had worked in Australia where they swim horses a lot. When I came back I said I’d love to have a swimming pool. Then there was a train crash down in Cahir and there was a lot of cement on board, so I got that very cheaply and the pool was built!”

Earlier in the evening Con had heard the Minister for Agriculture tell guests that he was thinking of starting a racehorse ownership syndicate among Oireachtas members.

Never one to miss an opportunity, Con singled out the Minister when he was on stage later. “Minister, you’ll have to invite me up to the Dáil bar. I have the horse for that syndicate!”