IRISH mythology was centre stage at Hanshin Racetrack last weekend. The main race of the day, the Group 2 Kobe Shimbum Hai, a trial race for the Group 1 Kikuka Sho (Japanese St Leger), was won by Lia Fáil.

The JRA’s database describes the origin of horse names and in the case of Lia Fáil, it explains that the placename is located in Tara, Co Meath, and was the coronation stone for the ancient Irish High Kings. It evens references the mythical Tuatha Dé Danann.