Bog Warrior arrives on time for Ryanair boss

I could empathise with some of the horses at Fairyhouse on New Year's Day. Some of them weren't able to run, according to the announcer who boomed over the public address, some very relevant information for the patrons. It probably meant a lot more to the regular punters, they probably just noted it as they crossed off various runners in each race. Unlike me, I actually felt sorry for the poor horses, so maybe I should have declared that I had some sympathy for them. But then they probably wouldn't understand some insightful writing, a bit like some of the readers, perhaps! The Kangleys from Moynalty must have been very disappointed after their promising six-year-old, He's Our Man, turned out lame when he was unloaded from the horsebox at the track and was unable to run. The fact that trainer Oliver Brady ran him two days earlier, finished second to Noel Meade's Another Palm, probably didn't help the cause. The explanations for the other non-runners varied from lame, coughing, stiff and sore, off feed and even one that wasn't qualified for the race from Gordon Elliott's all-conquering Capranny Stables. That was understandable as Silverlord had won a maiden hurdle at Down Royal last Thursday and was duly excluded from a similar event at Fairyhouse. I met Gordon as he was on his way into the parade ring - dropping money out of his coat pocket - I duly informed him, but he took a look at the three 20-cent coins on the ground and walked on. Perhaps he was also stiff and sore? I was mighty impressed when I saw the 'King of the low fares airline' there and plunged on his well-fancied and aptly-named Gift of Dgab for the opening race. I was cheering heartily for Michael O'Leary's charge, but wouldn't you know that a woman with Meath connections, Jessica Harrington, upset the 4/7 favourite with a complete outsider. That was bad enough, but I was aghast by the name the Ryanair boss chose for his horse in the second race. Not a good name - Crash - I avoided the impulse to invest and was rewarded, Crash could only finish third. Six runners went out wearing the Gigginstown House Stud colours at Fairyhouse, but it wasn't until the last race that a winner arrived. That was a newcomer with an unenviable name - Bog Warrior (pictured) - trained in Meath by Tony Martin who also trains Gift Of Dgab. Elliott was also on the mark when Trendelenburg arrived late, obviously no Ryanair connection, for Paul Carberry and won by a neck. That was a first win on the track and kept the trainer and his fiancée smiling. However, the one to watch next time out must be the Jim Dreaper-trained Retrievethelegend which was an easy third on a return to the smaller obstacles. Fairyhouse management have to be commended for granting permission for a fundraising collection to the local under-age soccer club from Ratoath Harps. And the youngsters were out in force under the guidance of club officials Mark Tobin and club chairman Damien Ward. Trying to urge the punters to part with some money were Aoife Ward, Aaron O'Toole, Conor Ward, Ronan Hynes, Ian McGrath, Ciara Ward and Chloe Kelly. I don't know how successful they were, but they deserve enormous credit from braving the elements on a bitterly cold day. Most of the patrons on Saturday availed of the excellent catering facilities with the BobbyJo restaurant doing a brisk trade while the Tote hall was packed also as racing enthusiasts kept an eye on how Barry Geraghty was getting on at Cheltenham. They could also follow the racing at Tramore where Gigginstown House Stud also had a winner and the football enthusiasts were able to monitor Man Utd on the way to another Premiership title? There was one winner of a moderate jackpot pool who scooped €3,750. The team at Fairyhouse will be pleased that on this occasion that they weren't thwarted by the weather, but it can't be easy to keep the show on the road after so many postponements. “I hope the weather, economy and all else improves for the year ahead,†commented Fairyhouse acting-manager Peter Roe. The next racing at the track is scheduled for Sunday 16th January when the Normans Grove Chase will be the feature event. The next potential big pay-day for Fairyhouse will be the Grand National meeting at Easter and that could be a hugely important earner for the track after a difficult 2010 when the weather wreaked havoc with both the racing and probably the budgets as well.