David Jennings recalls remarkable day for the village of Dunderry

On the national scene Meath are very well represented with many high-profile and well-regarded journalists plying their trade in sport, politics and current affairs.

In a series of features over the next few weeks we have asked some of those national journalists to take time out from their hectic schedules to pen a few words recalling their favourite sporting memory.

Today we will feature the Racing Post's Irish editor David Jennings who recalls Dun Doire's remarkable Cheltenham win in 2006, and tomorrow we will have Morning Ireland presenter on RTE Gavin Jennings who looks back on the day Meath beat Kildare to all but secure promotion back to NFL Div 1 after 16 years in exile.

DAVID JENNINGS (RACING POST)

From Macetown outside Navan, less than two miles from Robinstown, David played all his under-age and adult football for Dunderry up until transferring to Dunshaughlin for 2021, where he now lives. He worked for The Weekender newspaper in Navan and Lynn Publications in Kells before becoming Sports Editor of the Meath Post in 2008. He joined the Racing Post in 2011 and was promoted to Deputy Irish Editor in 2016.

IT WAS AN imperishable afternoon at one of sport's most idyllic amphitheatres.

The opening day of the Cheltenham Festival is always sugar-coated in anticipation, a glorious giddiness that brings you back to your childhood and how you used to tiptoe down the stairs on Christmas morning.

Let's rewind to 2006. Noland came from nowhere to snatch the Supreme in the final stride and Brave Inca led home a 1-2-3-4 for Ireland in the Champion Hurdle. The best was yet to come.

The William Hill Trophy was not the highlight of the day but turned into the highlight of a lifetime for many of us.

I was not one of the lucky owners of Dun Doire, but it was hard not to feel like a part of the fairytale. I had trained with most of the members of the syndicate the previous Friday night in Dunderry; I had spent all my life in awe of the sublime Ruby Walsh; and, I had marvelled at the ability of Tony Martin to get his horses to bloom on the big day.

Dun Doire was not a quick horse. He had won at Wetherby, Haydock, Navan, Fairyhouse and the prestigious Thyestes Chase at Gowran Park en route to Cheltenham. On each of those occasions it was an endless supply of stamina that got him home in front.

He was the equine equivalent of the Meath teams in the 1990s. He never knew when he was beaten. He was often three or four points down going into injury-time, but ended up winning by two.

In this particular race, Walsh looked to be chasing a lost cause on Dun Doire. With three to jump, he had almost the entire field in front of him. The second-last was bypassed and 66-1 outsider Irish Hussar kicked a few lengths clear off the final bend. It looked over.

But, just as Tara Hill claims many an undercooked athlete, the Cheltenham hill did likewise to Irish Hussar. He was punch drunk after the last, like someone stumbling out of Geraghty's pub after a few too many whiskeys, and it opened the door for those in pursuit.

Dun Doire still had six lengths to make up coming down to the last, and four horses in front of him, but he flew the final fence and that aforementioned stamina began to kick in. Halfway up the hill it was blatantly obvious that he was going to get there. He powered home inside the final 50 yards to score by two lengths.

From the middle of the main grandstand the sight seemed surreal. The local horse, owned by lads you play football with, winning on the biggest stage of all and doing so from an impossible position. And, he was 7-1. Of course we all had a few quid on. It would have been rude not to.

The celebrations, as you might expect, weren't bad either. There are very rare occasions when a hangover is worth it and this was one such occasion.

"The plan was to challenge late," said Martin afterwards. "Basically he's too slow and there's no point putting him up there because he will just have a puncture. He can't go with them so I left it up to the jockey and you don't get anybody better than Ruby."

You certainly don't, Tony. Walsh is the best rider these eyes have ever clapped on and quite how he managed to pull this particular rabbit out of the hat remains a mystery.

An unforgettable ride. An unforgettable occasion.