Thousands galop to Fairyhouse for Easter racing fun
WITH Cheltenham still fresh in punters’ minds, racegoers were back in action for the Easter Bank Holiday weekend as the gates opened for the Fairyhouse racing festival.
Thousands made their way to the Ratoath racecourse from across the country and the UK, with the hopes of going home with a winner.
Day one was particularly special for Ashbourne, Co Meath, residents Eileen (45) and Raymond Sutton (42), who got together at the races two decades ago.
“Twenty years ago on Easter Sunday, I met my husband here. We actually met the night before but then we came here. We’ve been married for 18 years,” she said.
Andrea Roche model Aoife McGrane (24) enjoyed a day out with her family and also judged the children’s La Bucca Easter Bonnet competition.
“I like a bit of colour, especially at this time of year and it’s nice to wear local designers as well. The atmosphere is always so good here and it’s a local racecourse for me,” she said.
The competition was won by five-year-old Jessica Harford from Ratoath, who has been taking part for the past three years.
“It took us three days. We have entered since she was two, every year we came back and this year she said she wanted to win,” said her mother Cheryl McGann.
Proceedings kicked off with The Ryans Cleaning Event Specialists Maiden Hurdle, won by trainer Joesph O’Brien and owner JP McManus with Uisce Beatha.
“It’s a well-bred horse. I think he will be a smashing horse in a couple of years’
time, and it was a nice novice hurdle,” said O’Brien.
Champion trainer Willie Mullins came out on top at the end of day one, winning the Grade 1 Ryanair Gold Cup with Al Boum Photo.
It was made all the more special by being his second win of the day,after he also emerged victorious from the Grade 1 Novice Hurdle Championship Final with Laurina and jockey Paul Townend.
The style stakes will be turned up further for today’s Most Stylish Lady competition, with the winner receiving a stay in the luxurious Carton House and a three-day trip to Boston.