Riverstown’s McKeon over the moon with Cheltenham win
SLIGO celebrated earlier this month as one of its own sons became the first in 41 years almost to the day, to see their horse win a race at the world famous Cheltenham Festival.
The last time a Sligo owned horse finished first in a race at the event was on St Patrick’s Day in 1977.
Owned by cattle exporter and Beltra man Paul Clarke and trained by Bill Boyers from Rosses Point, ‘Kilcoleman’ galloped to glory in the County Hurdle with Tommy Kinnane on its back.
Fast forward four decades later.
At a price of 25-1, Relegate, who is owned by Riverstown native Paul McKeon, beat the odds to arrive from the back late on before taking the Champion Bumper on the second day of the festival.
Relegate is steadily making her name in the horse racing world and too its owner.
Having contested her maiden race as a three-year-old in Fairyhouse in 2016, the now five-year-old won her first race in January of this year at Punchestown, beating 13 other runners.
Despite the decent form going into this month’s meeting, Paul admits he wasn’t confident ahead of the final race of day two.
Infact, the Sligo man was even convinced that trainer Willie Mullins had more suitable horses in his arsenal.
“We weren’t confident and we really didn’t expect her to do that well”, Paul tells the Sligo Champion.
“We actually thought Willie would have had a few other horses that would have been a better choice for the race!
“We always had it in our minds to enter (Relegate), but it wasn’t until about eight days before the race that we knew she was in.”
The horse held up at the rear before having it all ahead of her three furlongs out.
Picking up speed, she turned in and eventually went second within the final furlong before overtaking the leader.
Incredibly, she held on inside the final 100 yards with rider Katie Walsh propelling her on for an historic victory.
“It was great. We couldn’t believe it. “It was a great experience. The whole week was extremely special”, Paul recalls.
Having moved from Sligo to Dublin to study accountancy, Paul says he always held the sport of horse racing close to his heart.
An owner of horses trained by flat-race kingpin Johnny Murtagh, Paul’s rise from punter to owner came at a steady pace.
He continues: “I always had an interest in racing I guess.
“I was involved in a few syndicates with a few lads and it came from there really.”
Having gone relatively under the radar in the lead up to Relegate’s finest hour to date, there were great celebrations here at home.
Particularly amongst those in the know who had been shrewd enough to back the horse at its lengthy price.
“We were there for the week and we had a few over from Sligo, from Tubbercurry, Bunninaden and Ballymote”, Paul explains.
“The phone was constantly going off that day and for a few days after really!”
Taking a well deserved break at the moment, the next challenge on Relegate’s calendar is expected to be next month’s Punchestown Festival.
“We’re giving her a little break at the moment”, Paul reveals.
“But we’re hoping to get her to Punchestown if the ground isn’t too firm.”