Townend

Townend

By Stephen Dwyer

It was Winston Churchill who famously said that continuous effort - not strength or intelligence - is the key to unlocking our potential. Champion-jockey-elect, Paul Townend is a young man who knows the former and is gifted with the latter.

Townend, a Cork native, will celebrate his 21st birthday this September and despite his fresh faced appearance, he has been around horses more than most. When Townend was a boy, his father Timmy trained point-to-pointers. Keeping it in the family, his uncle Bob Townend was a prominent jockey in the 1970’s and 1980’s and his uncle Gerry Townend was another top amateur. Paul’s first cousin is Davy Condon, former stable jockey to Nicky Richards and now closely affiliated with Noel Meade. Little wonder then since Paul left school at 15, the die was cast for his life as a jockey.

A precocious talent on the Pony Racing circuit, where he gained invaluable riding experience, Townend quickly progressed through the pony ranks. He then began riding as an apprentice on the flat; his debut was in the summer of 2007 in Ballinrobe on a nondescript Wednesday evening. Claiming a full 10lb allowance, Townend finished third on the Willie Mullins-trained Temlett. From that humble starting point, Townend quickly showed his ability as a horseman and started to win races. The most notable of these was when steering the heavily gambled favourite and top-weighted Emily Blake to a valuable handicap at the Galway Festival in 2007. Following this win, he closed a successful first season by winning on the last day of the flat.
Townend, even for a jockey, is not small. Like many of his former colleagues on the flat who battled in vain against their weight, he switched codes to the National Hunt arena. In doing so he followed the example set by Tony McCoy and Paul Carberry who can now manage their weight more easily than on the flat.

Success over jumps did not elude him for long and at the 2008 Galway Festival; Townend won the Galway Hurdle on the John Kiely-trained Indian Pace. Aside from the Galway win, it was at Closutton and through the opportunities presented by Willie Mullins, a man who knows a thing or two about talent that Townend’s career began to reach unprecedented heights.

In 2008, Willie Mullins was giving a pre-season interview when a boyish-faced stable lad walked past. The lad, replete with body protector and riding hat was carrying a brush and bucket. "See him," said Mullins when he was out of earshot of the lad, "Mention that young fella in your article. Paul Townend is his name. I think he is going to be good. He's bred to be anyway”

Since that day, Mikael D'Haguenet, Hurricane Fly, Golden Silver, Quevega and Zaidpour have all enjoyed Grade 1 success for Mullins and Townend, if you are old enough, you are good enough.

For a 20 year old, Townend riding style is very seasoned. In races, he settles horses early and has a quietness, an assurance about his business. There is an inner confidence which is matched by his work rate. To date, Townend has ridden 487 times this season; Andrew McNamara on 550 is the only National Hunt jockey to have ridden more.

Three weeks ago, a fall in a Handicap Chase at Navan resulted in a broken collarbone for Townend. This fall was on his sixth ride of the day, less than 18 hours previously he had ridden a winner on the flat at Dundalk. Townend is expected to be back riding this weekend at the Fairyhouse Easter Festival, with 76 winners this season, Davy Russell with 67 is his closest rival for the jockey’s title. With a top class book of rides ahead of him and Fairyhouse and Punchestown, Townend is likely to take the champion jockey title.

Incidentally, do you remember Temlett, the horse that Paul had his first ride? Now trained by Arthur Moore’s son, JD, he was the subject of a massive gamble last month in a handicap hurdle at Cork. Backed from 25/1 into 11/2, he overcame a 1061 day absence to make all and win comfortably.

His jockey? Paul Townend of course.

Funny how the wheel turns full circle.

The Irish Cheltenham

The Irish Cheltenham

13 is considered to be an unlucky number for many reasons. For instance there are 13 steps on a gallows and some people are so superstitious they will not leave their house on Friday the 13th. For the Irish at Cheltenham this year, 13 was the luckiest possible number. It was the total amount of Irish winners at the festival, a new record. Irish horses won almost half of all the races at Cheltenham and many of these superstars will be on show for their season finale at Punchestown in a little over two weeks time.

Unquestionably the Punchestown Festival is the highlight of the racing calendar. Considered by many to be “The Irish Cheltenham” Punchestown is certainly not a poor relation to its English counterpart. There are no less than 11 Grade One races over the five days and the quality of racing is unrivalled in Ireland. When Hurricane Fly pipped Solwhit by a neck in the Champion Hurdle last year, it galvanised his status as a Cheltenham champion-in-waiting. Hurricane Fly makes a reappearance at the track this year, preferring it to Aintree and the break will suit him will. We are likely to see Quevega too, she stepped up to 3m to win the World Series Hurdle in 2010 and taking on the boys will be no problem this year again for this wonder mare.

Baby Run will return to the track too, he won a Champion Hunters Chase there in 2009 and has no fear of the big fences on a track that features the only cross country banks course in Ireland. One horse that will draw the crowds more than any other though will be the mighty Kauto Star. The best chaser in a generation will line up for the Guinness Gold Cup on May 4th, a race his stable mate Denman could only finish fourth in last year. It is possible that Kauto will finish his career at Punchestown. Clive Smith, Kauto Star’s owner is on record to have said "It would be a great way to round off the season if he could win in Ireland. Any decisions on his future will be made after that.” If Kauto Star wins the Guinness Gold Cup, the racecourse owners will need a new roof because the crowd will have lifted it off.
The Punchestown Festival is welcomed too with open arms by the locals around Naas. Since it was extended to five days in 2008, attendance is steadily in the region of 100,000 with 20% of this originating from overseas. The local economy benefits to the region of €50 million and the extension of the race week to include a Saturday was a very shrewd and welcome move.

Cheltenham is a left-handed track, Punchestown is right-handed. This difference though is not unique. The culture around the Punchestown festival in Ireland is on a more local, grass-roots level than in Cheltenham. 14 racecourses including Cheltenham, Aintree and Newmarket are owned by a conglomerate called the Jockey Club, the 466 acres at Punchestown are owned by The Kildare Hunt Club and not HRI. Credit must go to The Kildare Hunt Club for their flexibility and innovation in running the meeting.
As it is a mid-week meeting, the race times at Punchestown are scheduled around work times, the first race starts at 3.40pm, the last around 7.15pm which lends the opportunity for race-goers to attend without taking the full day off work. Many local schools close for racing and numerous organisations in the area adopt a laissez-faire approach to the week, including the well-documented case of Kildare County Manager receiving one privilege day to attend the Punchestown races.

The meeting receives huge local support and the interest of owners and trainers is due to the prestige and €2.2 million prize fund. This year’s Punchestown Festival has been moved back one week and will take place from Tuesday May 3rd to Saturday May 7th. Due to a late Easter, this is the first time in ten years that the meeting will be held in May.

Racing was first held in Punchestown in 1868, which was also the year of a British Royal Visit. The Queen will not be in attendance this time around but Kauto Star, Hurricane Fly and Quevega will be. Isn’t that enough royalty for anybody?

Cheltenham 2011 Festival Preview

Cheltenham 2011 Festival Preview

By Stephen Dwyer

The Cheltenham festival, described annually by those in the racing world as “The Equine Olympics” celebrates its centenary this year. Starting on Tuesday next, 28 prestigious races will be run over four days and all involved will be hoping to share a total prize fund of €4 million (£3.38 million).

Cheltenham communications manager Andy Clifton expects an attendance of over 220,000 for the festival, which will contribute £50 million to the local economy. Over €500 million will be gambled in the course of four days, which is one of the highest valued betting events outside of the World Cup.

10,000 Irish racing fans will descend upon the track at Prestbury Park to witness first-hand the illustrious meeting. The very best of Irish, British and French horses will be pitted against each other, each race having an average value of £125,000.

The Irish invasion of Cheltenham began in earnest in the late 1940’s when Cottage Rake trained by the great Vincent O’ Brien, won three consecutive Gold Cups (1948,1949,1950) and Hatton’s Grace also won three Champion Hurdle’s in a row (1949,1950,1951). The Gloucestershire track has since become a mecca for the Irish, many of whom save year-round for the pilgrimage.

The gambling stories about Cheltenham are legendary, one Irishman won enough on Istabraq in the Champion Hurdle of 1998 to pay off his mortgage, then he proceeded to lose his house on Doran’s Pride in the Gold Cup a couple of days later. “It was only a small house anyway,” he is reputed to have said.

Irish and English alike know by now that “there is no such thing as a sure thing” in Cheltenham. Since 2006, fifteen horses were beaten there at odds of under 2/1. The track itself is carved out of cleeve hill and its undulating dips and rises do not suit every racehorse.

At maximum capacity the grandstand at Cheltenham will hold nearly 70,000 spectators; it will swell with anticipation at 1:30 on Tuesday as the starting tapes go up for the first race, the Supreme Novice’s Hurdle.

The world-famous Cheltenham roar marks the moment when the festival really begins but even that does not escape the betting frenzy. Paddy Power once rigged up a decibel recorder and offered 5/1 that the noise will be between 130-140 dB, same as that of a jet engine.

If you are lucky enough to be at the festival do not be surprised to see racegoers donning unusual headwear on the first day. The racecourse is giving away thousands of free bowler hats to honour those who started the meeting in 1911.

With the wait almost over, we will keep you updated with tips, advice and the inside track on all the runners and riders for the most popular horse race meeting in the world.

Out of the past 72 races run in Cheltenham, 24 of them were won by Irish horses. With St. Patrick’s Day taking place on day three of the festival, Irish eyes may well be smiling around the Cotswolds and beyond.

Star Neuville

Star Neuville

By Stephen Dwyer

When the Champion Bumper was first run at Cheltenham, many traditionalists heralded it as the “beginning of the end of the festival”. What they meant by this was of course the inclusion of an all-flat race into jump racing’s annual Olympiad would somehow dilute it. As is often the case with the old guard when faced with new ideas, they were merely fearful of the unknown. Such is the popularity of the Champion Bumper nowadays that winning it is seen as a major stepping stone in the career of a young horse.

Indeed since its first running in 1992, three Champion Bumper winners have returned to the Cheltenham the next year to win their Festival race (Montelado won the Supreme Novice Hurdle, Florida Pearl won the RSA Chase and Monsignor won what is now the Neptune Investment Novices' Hurdle). There have been of course major upsets, Dunguib last year and Cousin Vinny in 2009 both lost the Supreme Novices Hurdle when favourite. Cue Card bids to set the record straight this year.
The Champion Bumper is the race in which the Irish boast the highest strike rate of winners at Cheltenham. 14 out of 18 runnings have been won by Irish-trained horses. From his base on the Kilkenny-Carlow border, John “Shark” Hanlon is dearly hoping to continue the Irish stranglehold on the race this year with Star Neuville.

A former cattle dealer, it was only a few short years ago that Hanlon took out a trainer’s license; he was kicked by a bullock in 2001, an incident which kept him low for a year. Along with that year’s foot and mouth crisis, he eventually changed profession in 2006 when taking the plunge into horse racing on a full-time basis. A trickle of horses flowed into his yard, many from contacts he had made in the cattle business but one owner in particular; Barry Connell has brought many fine horses to Shark’s stables including Luska Lad and Star Neuville.

Star Neuville has raced five times, second in his first point to point; he duly obliged next time out when winning by ten lengths at odds of 4/6. He was an £80,000 purchase at the Cheltenham sales last April and has since progressed to become one of Ireland’s leading hopes in the Champion Bumper.

He boasted a very good time at a Galway bumper in August when unsuited by the fast going and his latest run was when beating a Willie Mullins trained hotpot, Champagne Agent at Leopardstown over Christmas.

It is worth noting that the Leopardstown bumpers over Christmas are a significant signpost for Cheltenham hopefuls. Wither or Which, Florida Pearl and Total Enjoyment all won bumpers at Leopardstown before taking their respective Champion Bumpers in Cheltenham.

Shark has admitted "I think the world of this horse and he's improved loads since he won at Leopardstown". Looking closely at his last run in Leopardstown, he put the race to bed in a matter of strides. He did idle slightly when the front but perhaps this was boredom as the race was wrapped up at this stage, It was 4 lengths back to Champagne Agent and 22 lengths back to the third horse.

Star Neuville is currently fourth in the betting for the Champion Bumper, hovering around the 12/1 mark (from 25/1) he represents solid each-way value in the race. Did I mention that Champion jockey Tony McCoy also looks set to take the ride? McCoy will be bidding for his second Champion Bumper victory, following on from Liberman in 2003. His authoritarian style of riding will suit the five year old gelding. Star Neuville is also Shark Hanlon’s only Cheltenham runner.

Hanlon had intended on running the five year old gelding in a Grade 2 bumper in Newbury last month but instead his connections opted to complete his festival preparations with a racecourse gallop at Leopardstown on Sunday last. This may have been a boost to the chances of Star Neuville as horses that do not run in the same calendar year as the Champion Bumper have an excellent record in the race. Many trainers put their best bumper horses away for the race and five of the last eight winners had not run after New Year’s Day.

Ever honest, Hanlon has stated that Star Neuville would probably start favourite if trained by bumper king Willie Mullins. In less than two weeks we will see just how good he is, but as a progressive, experienced horse, he goes to Cheltenham with every chance.

In the end, stars always shine, we will hope that this one lights up the sky for the Shark.

Money Matters

Money Matters

By Stephen Dwyer



€169.21 is the riding fee for a professional National Hunt jockey in Ireland. Out of that amount, €8.97 is deducted for the Jockeys’ Accident Fund. A further €1.65 goes to the provision of medical and ambulance services at race meetings. Not too many people pay for the privilege of an ambulance following them at their place of work, the riding fee is well earned.

Last season, Paul Carberry rode 263 horses in Ireland, his combined riding fees amounted to €44,502. Supplementing this, his 10% share of prize money won totalled €60,568, taking his yearly earnings on the track to around €105,000. For the toils he exerts on his body, it is a small amount. He must take daily medication for his missing spleen following a fall at Noel Meade’s gallops in 1999 this resulted in a five month layoff. His body has suffered a litany of injuries, a punctured lung, multiple rib fractures, collar bone. It’s a long list for someone who turns 37 next week.

Throughout his career, Paul Carberry has always represented the grass roots of horse racing in Ireland. His forthcoming autobiography is entitled “Swinging from the Rafters”. The apt naming of the book is a reference to the time he caught and swung from the rafters of the winning enclosure at Aintree when he won the Grand National aboard Bobbjo.

Another time in Fethard, he rode a horse into the snug of McCarthy’s bar, just for a laugh, he admitted. You get the inkling that Carberry is a likeable rogue who answers to no-one. His graft and honesty are the seat of his popularity among punters and fans of the sport.

On the other end of the scale, Horse Racing Ireland is the governing body of horse racing in Ireland. It is somewhat of a unique entity. It is one of the only commercial semi-state organisations in existence whose remit extend into Northern Ireland. The two racecourses in Northern Ireland, Down Royal and Downpatrick, are under the control of the HRI and not the British Horseracing Authority.

HRI also owns Fairyhouse, Leopardstown, Navan and Tipperary racecourses. The HRI group also operate the Irish Thoroughbred Marketing and the Tote.

Like most of us, HRI did not escape the consequences of the budget, a €1.6 million reduction in their funding resulted in a drop in prize money, but they are still an expensive organisation to run.

The salary of Brian Kavangh, current CEO of HRI is €175,200. On the face of it, this is about four times as much as a staff nurse. Granted, his responsibilities are significant. He is responsible for the overall administration of horse racing in Ireland and the promotion of the sport internationally. Still, his salary is greater than that of the CEO is Bord Bia, or indeed the Health and Safety Authority or the Higher Education Authority.

For a key position, Kavanagh is well compensated. In 2008 he earned €313,000. He received massive bonuses worth €65,000 for 2008 and €57,000 in respect of his performance in 2009. To his credit, Kavanagh took a voluntary pay reduction of just over 8 per cent in 2010. That said, he still earns a gross figure a shade under €3,370 per week.

The Irish Bookmakers Association recently called for a reform of the way revenue is spent at HRI. Whether or not the HRI represents value for money is of course subjective. There are many top-class facilities for jockeys and trainers at racecourses, yet until recently there were race courses that did not even have separate changing rooms for female and male jockeys.

From a regulatory perspective, HRI are subject to an annual audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General. The administration costs have reduced by over 28% since 2008 and the group has shed 33 staff, from 177 to 143.

Ireland enjoys an enviable position as a leading horse racing nation worldwide.HRI do have a long term funding program in place to boost growth within the industry. Whether it is a case of spending more wisely, frugally or creating new initiatives to protect the industry, only time will tell.

All eyes are now on you Mr. Kavanagh. Don’t let us down.

The Quiet Man

The Quiet Man

By Stephen Dwyer

Adorning the mantelpiece in Colm Murphy’s sitting room are two slightly dulled sliver trophies. Angular in shape, it is only on closer inspection that the inscriptions read “Supreme Novices' Hurdle Winner 2004 - Brave Inca” on one and “Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle 2006 Winner - Brave Inca” on the other. Whereas other trainers might frequently shine such awards, you get the impression Colm Murphy has higher priorities on his agenda.

Aside from the mantelpiece, his dormer house at Ballinadrummin, eight miles south of Gorey is dotted inside with crystal cups and trainers prizes, most "of no intrinsic value" Murphy is quick to point out at his leisure. The house is adjacent to a collection of impressive and carefully-planned training facilities. Among these are separate sand and fibre gallops, a collection of horse walkers and an indoor lunging ring for schooling younger horses. All features are part of in a yard that averages fifty horses in training at any one time. It is a meticulous operation, an extension of the mind of an individual who is systematic and precise. Little wonder he is a qualified accountant.

Colm’s father Pat, kept horses and was a former jockey. Around the horse sales and races from a young age, Colm was a successful amateur jockey, 27 racecourse winners and some 50 point-to-point successes followed a humble start work-riding local Wexford owner Bert Allen's 'pointers' on his weekends off from studying at Waterford IT.

Throughout his amateur career, Colm rode several bumper winners for Aidan O’ Brien. While working for O’ Brien at Rosegreen for a shade over six years, his undertakings included handing the accounts, race entries and declarations. This was to prove invaluable in time to come. Recalling the years he spent in Tipperary, Murphy notes "I went to work for Aidan for a summer and I ended up staying for six years, and when you're around someone like that you can't help but learn”. During that time Murphy swore he would never become a trainer, a promise that was broken in 2000 when he took out a trainer’s license.

Still in his mid-thirties, Colm Murphy is one of the few trainers to train the winner of a championship race at the Cheltenham Festival while still in their twenties. Aidan O'Brien immediately springs to mind as another who achieved this accomplishment when Istabraq claimed the Royal & Sun Alliance Hurdle in 1997. The parallel does not end there; both men are softly spoken, natural horsemen and very shrewd judges at the sales.

At Listowel in April 2000, Colm made his racecourse debut as a trainer. A Mandalus mare, Alottalady finished eighth of seventeen in a maiden hurdle in Listowel when Colm also rode the mare. It was to be two years until he would taste success as a trainer. In March 2002, on his first start for Murphy, Anvil Lord would be a 20/1 winner in a maiden hurdle at Cork. Anvil Lord was an injury-prone sort and the young trainer demonstrated skilful handling when the gelding won two of his next three races.

Previous to the success of Anvil Lord, Colm had paid €18,000 for a son of Good Thyne out of a Commanche Run mare. The gelding went through the sales ring four times before Murphy acquired him on behalf of the Novice’s Syndicate. On his first start, Brave Inca, as the gelding was named, finished well down the field. He was then eighth to future Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Kicking King. Unusually, Brave Inca’s first three runs at the racecourse were over hurdles, Murphy’s faith in the ability of the gelding never wavered and when he filled into his frame he won his next two starts in a bumper.

The career of Brave Inca was phenomenal, he would become the outstanding hurdler of his generation and it would catapult Murphy into the public arena through the winner’s enclosure in Cheltenham. By the time his career ended, Brave Inca had a 44% strike rate, winning fifteen races including the two major Cheltenham hurdles and numerous Irish Champion hurdles.

When asked about the exploits of the horse, “Brave Inca built this house” divulged Murphy, almost retiringly. Not much more needed to be discussed.
At the height of Brave Inca’s exploits, Pat Redmond, a Wexford-based hotelier, instructed Colm to acquire a chaser at the Goff’s sales in 2004. Parting with €34,000, Redmond recalls: “I was at the sales with Colm Murphy and his father (Pat). We had looked at a lot of horses and Big Zeb was a big, scopey looking horse who just caught the eye; he looked a nice animal on the day.” In agreement, owner and trainer, Big Zeb was put into training and he soon became a top class chaser. Prone to the odd jumping clanger, Colm admitted “he’d run his race before he got to the track but this year he is a proper horse”.

Now unbeaten since winning the Champion Chase in Cheltenham last year, Big Zeb is Irelands highest-rated chaser in training. He was also crowned “horse of the year 2010” and is joint favourite for this year’s renewal of the Champion Chase, a race he has every chance of winning.

When questioned Big Zeb and Brave Inca running in the Purple and Gold colours of the Wexford flag, Murphy shrugs his shoulders and smiles knowingly. Colm has a way of giving you an answer without the urgency for words.
In Ireland last season he turned out 23 winners, earning over €400,000 in prize money for his owners

It may be a long time before those mantelpiece trophies are polished; it’s almost a guarantee many more are on the way.

Thyestes 2011

Thyestes 2011

By Stephen Dwyer

Whatever the weather, January is always good to Gowran Park. If it survives a 7.30am inspection, this Saturday, January 22nd will see the annual renewal of the Thyestes Chase, the busiest days racing of the year at the Kilkenny track. Forming the centrepiece of a seven race card, the valuable Grade A Handicap Thyestes Chase features a prize fund of €90,000 which is supplemented by local sponsors Connolly’s Red Mills.

First held in 1954, the Thyestes Chase is a race steeped in history. Amongst a host of exalted names, previous winners of the race include Arkle and Aintree Grand National champions Hedgehunter and Numbersixvalverde. It is the highlight of the season for Gowran Park and the most prestigious race of the year in the South East.

Each year, the inevitable question is asked about how the race was named. In Greek Mythology, Thyestes was the son of Pelops, King of Olympia (where the first Olympic games were held). But Thyestes was also a flat horse who was bred by Mount Juliet-based Major Victor McCalmont. Thyestes was a sprinter, rated the third best 2-y-o of 1930, winning both of his only starts. Retired to stud due to injury, he lent his name to The Thyestes trophy, which was presented to the Kilkenny Horse Show. The trophy was won by a horse owned by Mr. John McEnery of Rossenarra Stud in Kells, Co. Kilkenny. The McEnery Family presented it to Gowran Park for the first running of the Thyestes Chase in 1954 and it has been perpetual ever since.

In keeping with the valuable prize on offer, the Thyestes is a trappy event which is difficult to win. Entries from the bottom of the handicap have dominated in recent times. The 3m, 16 fence course is challenging and takes no prisoners. Margaret Fogarty, Gowran’s racecourse manager concurs “it takes a very good horse to win this fiercely competitive event”.

A closer look at the trends of the race reveals some useful pointers. Since 2000, no winner of the race has carried more than 10st 11lb and ever since official ratings were published, no horse has won off a mark higher than 133.

The current 5/1 favourite for the race is Pomme Tiepy. The mare is owned by USA-based banker Rich Ricci (who also owns Mikael D'Haguenet and Zaidpour) and trained by Willie Mullins. Pomme Tiepy is well weighted, and without a win in almost three years, she also finished 12th in the 2010 renewal. She was recently a gallant third in the Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown and a repeat of that performance should see her make the frame.

Champion trainer Willie Mullins is seeking his fourth success in ten years in the race. He also saddles The Midnight Club and Ballytrim, but both appear to have it all to do at the weights. Mullins ran no less than five of his horses in the race last year and given his current stable form his runners are sure to make a good account of themselves, so much so that some bookmakers are offering 7/4 about Willie Mullins to train the winner of the race.

The Thyestes is recognised as the trial for the Aintree and Irish Grand Nationals and repeat victories in the race are rare. Since 1954, only five horses to win the race more than once. The most recent of these was Priests Leap in 2008/2009. Last year’s winner, the Jimmy Mangan trained Winstone Boy is not without a chance. The subject of a massive on-course gamble in 2010 (backed from 14/1 into 5/1) the Mallow-based handler’s 10-y-o is proved on heavy ground and reported to be in good order.

Vying for second favouritism and trading at 10/1, Agus A Vic trained by Pat Martin is a former winning hunter chaser who has won over 3m 1f. Stamina is not an issue and his trainer notes “He goes on pretty much everything, although a bit of ease helps and he doesn’t like gluey ground, I would hope that he goes to the Thyestes with a good chance”

Gowran Park are expecting a crowd of about 8,000 on Saturday. Ever experts at implementing initiatives to racegoers, the management team are offering a free shuttle bus and reduced €10 entry to OAP’s and the unemployed for the second consecutive year. This is in keeping with innovation ever since 1952 when Gowran became first ever racecourse in Ireland to feature a live commentator.

Times and technology may have changed since then, but Thyestes day continues.

You can’t keep a good thing down.



Race Day Notes:

Thyestes Day 2011 takes place on Saturday, January 22nd. The racecourse will open at 11am. Tickets are available at Gowran Park on the day, priced at €17 for adults and €10 for OAP/ students/unemployed. Group discounts are available by contacting Gowran Park on www.gowranpark.ie or contact 056-7726225.

Betting Notes:

Pomme Tiepy 5/1, Agus A Vic 10/1, The Midnight Club 10/1, Alpha Ridge 10/1,Siegemaster 12/1, Ten Fires 12/1, Hangover 12/1, Sam Adams 12/1,Whinstone Boy 14/1, 16/1 BAR

Willie Mullins to train the winner of the Thyestes: 7-4
The Thyestes winner to win at the 2010 Cheltenham Festival: 16-1
The Thyestes winner to win the 2010 Irish Grand National: 14-1
The Thyestes winner to win the 2010 Aintree Grand National: 25-1