NATIONAL INTEREST
Style stakes high as racing kicks off irish jockey tests positive for cocaine
THOUSANDS of punters are expected to travel to Fairyhouse today for the Irish Grand National.
Racing fans from across the country will descend on the Co Meath course for one of the highlights of the calendar.
The Easter Festival started yesterday and Willie Mullins’ Fairyhouse campaign got off to a winning start as Al Boum Photo stormed to victory in the Ryanair Gold Cup.
With David Mullins on board, the six-year-old scooped €100,000 after snatching the top prize from Gordon Elliott’s Shattered Love at 11/2.
Laurina also added to her Cheltenham Festival success by registering the first Grade One victory of her career at Fairyhouse. The 2/11 favourite galloped home to win the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Novice Hurdle Championship Final.
While the winning margin did not match her 18-length Cheltenham stroll, jockey Paul Townend was able to sit motionless for much of the contest.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar is expected to attend Fairyhouse today.
Last year’s winning jockey Robbie Power will introduce him to all 30 riders for the big race.
Meanwhile, Dancing With The Stars contestant Alannah Beirne was among the thousands of punters at Fairyhouse yesterday. The 24-year-old A YOUNG Irish jockey has become the latest to test positive for cocaine.
Amateur rider Luke Mcguinness was given a two-year suspension by a committee at the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board this week.
He will undergo a rehabilitation programme under a senior medical officer and his case will be reviewed in six months, Racegoers from London make sure they stand out
FAIRYHOUSE YESTERDAY
revealed she’s set to move back to Ireland full time after her stint on the RTE show, having been based in London for the past year.
Alannah told the Irish Mirror: “I’ve been super busy since Dancing With The Stars finished – I haven’t had a day off.
“I’ve also officially decided that I’m going to move back to Ireland. I was going between here and London for a although there is no guarantee his licence will be restored at that stage.
The young jockey was randomly tested at Navan Racecourse in November.
He admitted taking the prohibited substance and expressed deep regret over “the shame [the incident] has brought on to him, his family and the sport”. Rachel Connellan and Ashling Ferriter
while but I’ve made up my mind. I wanted to come home anyway but I thought I would since the going is good here after DWTS.
“Everything seems to be happening for me here.”
The style stakes are set to be just as high as the racing ones today with thousands of ladies expected to turn out for the best-dressed competition.
Sky Sports presenter Olivia Wayne will judge the glamorous fillies, with a three-day trip to Boston up for grabs.
With some rain forecasted, Alannah advised anybody taking part to dress appropriately for the weather.
She said: “I would definitely go all out. But there’s supposed to be wind and rain so maybe a dressy coat would be a good option. Also hats, umbrellas and scarves. Something colourful is always a good bet too.”
I would go all out..hats umbrellas and scarves are always a good bet ALANNAH BEIRNE