Michelle and Grace to feature in Punchestown
This week thousands of Irish National Hunt racing fans will flock to Punchestown for the climax to the season. The Kildare venue will see Paul Townend and Jack Kennedy battle it out for the honour of leading jockey, with racing running from Tuesday until Saturday.
The closing race on Saturday will see a very special contest take place and will include a strong local connection. Each year in Punchestown a charity race is held for a special cause.
All the participants have to raise at least €1,500 - many raise much greater sums. This year will be a very special year as amongst the 25 jockeys taking part will be Sara Jane Tracy, who is a kidney transplant recipient from Kill, Co. Kildare. Sara Jane is keen to raise Organ Donor awareness in Ireland by participating in the “Kidney” race at the festival.
LOCAL CONNECTIONS
Sara Jane will have her cousin, Jack Tracy flying in from Germany to take part alongside her. Local interest from a Cork point of view is very strong. Joan Tyner, daughter of Co. Cork trainer Robert, will be flying the Goff ’s flag. From the banks of the Bride and Blackwater come Michelle O’Brien from Bartlemy and Grace Dorgan, from Glanworth. Both girls are very involved with the racing game, as both ride out at Terence O’Brien's stables in Carrigtwohill. Michelle is riding Cathy’s Quest and Grace is riding Steller’s Symphony, which is owned by an Araglin syndicate. Both horses are trained by Terence O’Brien.
The race is on at 6.30pm on Saturday evening in Punchestown as the National Hunt season draws to its conclusion. For Michelle and Grace it will be a very special occasion. Michelle, nee O’Donovan, comes from a family long associated with horse breeding and racing. Similarly with Grace, her father, Donal is a farrier.
We wish them both the very best on Saturday and hope they have a really enjoyable day. Winning would be nice, but in reality it's all about raising awareness and funds for dialysis and organ donation.
MANGAN GRADE ONE SUCCESS ON TUESDAY
On the track earlier this week, “class to burn” is how Conna trainer, Jimmy Mangan, described his charge Spillane’s Tower, having taken victory on Tuesday at the Kildare venue in the grade one Dooley Insurance Group Champion Novice Chase.
The victory for the joint favourite (5/2 with Monty’s Star) ridden by Mark Walsh for JP McManus, now puts the crafty stalwart “back on the motorway again!” in his own words, having been “near to the end of the road”. The 6-yearold, a potential Gold Cup contender, was joined by his tv pundit daughter Jane and Mary when interviewed by RTE, along with JP McManus. Continued success!