Listowel: Texas Jack primed for big run

September 18, 2015 Florian Christoph Leave a comment

Boom – there it is! A big winner, again, finally! Aaaahhh I needed that. Thankfully I didn’t see the race but only the result. Wouldn’t have been good for my heart. Misty Lady finished the job at tasty 14/1 in a thrilling finish. Nice.

4.55 Listowel: 2m 4f Chase

I can see why lightly raced Devils Bridge is a very popular horse here – it could well be the case that he can improve enough to be competitive with the top weight Texas Jack, who is obviously the class act in the field. However, as it has been the case in the last days, the ground will have something to say again.This young Devils Bridge has shown all his best form on quick ground – while Listowel dried out a bit, it is still soft today – so completely alien to him.

I’m more inclined to give proven class another chance. Texas Jack was disappointing in all his recent starts, but you can make excused for him. Either the ground wasn’t soft enough, or the trip to far. However 2m 4f on soft ground represents exactly the kind of test he wants.

So if this multiple Grade 2 winner runs to his best form today, he’ll be certainly hard to beat in my mind.So 5/1 looks rather on the generous side.

Texas Jack @ 5/1 William Hill – 5pts Win

Ireland

Listowel: Catalaunian will relish testing conditions

September 17, 2015 Florian Christoph Leave a comment

Shame yesterday, Rule The World travelled much like he would rule the kingdom indeed… but he didn’t quite see it out and finished only third. He’s a frustrating horse, to some extend, I guess. Nonetheless, the greyer the clouds become, the darker the mornings are, the more I get into the mood for jump racing. I have set my eye on two interesting chances at Listowel today in particular….

5.00 Listowel: Grade B Handicap Hurdle, 2m

The ground has decimated the field and should be the deciding factor in the race. The favourite makes plenty of appeal as the bottom weight and may well have too much to offer, however is untested on really soft ground.

So chance is taken on Misty Lady, a proven soft ground performer who has won over two miles in the past. Infact she absolutely loves the mud and also stays further. I can see her being positively ridden today to make it a really stiff test which should suit her best. She has won earlier this year off a 10lb lower mark. This form stacks up well and she run with credit of her current mark subsequently, although switched to the flat then , she hasn’t shown any form in her last handful of starts.

Back over hurdles, with conditions sure to suit, she is a big price against the favourite though.

Misty Lady @ 14/1 William Hill – 5pts Win

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5.35 Listowel: Handicap Hurdle, 3m

If you wanna win this, you’ve got to stay the trip, and you need to stay it well in these ground conditions. That won’t suit a handful in this field, though there are some unexposed horses with potential in it.

I feel Catalaunian, albeit favourite on the machines at the moment, is still overpriced. He is lightly raced and improved dramatically for the step up to 3m and soft ground when winning a maiden at Bellewstown by a street last month. The form is good as the runner-up won subsequently.

Catalaunian should absolutely relish todays conditions at Listowel, and while his mark is stiff enough for a handicap debut, it could equaly underestimate his potential.

Catalaunian @ 7/2 VC – 5pts Win

Ireland

Rule The World Can Rule The Kingdom

September 16, 2015 Florian Christoph Leave a comment

3.45 Listowel: Handicap (Class 1), 9f

Heavy going all around at Listowel, we have to feel thankful for the fact that can race, actually. A pretty open looking handicap this is here, but I feel Water Sprite is quite overpriced. She couldn’t make her name count on the beach last week, but return to this track, where she won a CD handicap last season, should help.

She is also proven on soft ground and can stay further where needed. From a good raw she may go out aggressively and make this stamina count on a tight track where it certainly is no disadvantage to be up with the pace. She has been pretty rubbish in her last three races, but for mentioned reasons should be competitive today, even more so with a decent 10lb claimer in the saddle.

Water Sprite @ 12/1 Coral – 5pts Win

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4.20 Listowel: Kerry National (Grade a Handicap). 3m

Rule The World is a bit an unlucky horse. He travelled so strongly in the Galway Plate the other day, just to slip two out. He would have gone mightily close, one would assume. He has never won over 3m, however he shouldn’t have a problem staying the trip, given he was second in last seasons Irish National.

What adds more weight to his chance: clearly the ground. He is so much better when it’s bottomless. While his mark went up 3lb for the strong Galway run, he has the fine 3lb claim from David Mullins.

Rule The World @ 7/1 William Hill

Global Racing

Sea Calisi a major threat for Treve

September 13, 2015 Florian Christoph Leave a comment

3.10 Longchamp: Prix Vermeille (Group 1), 1m 4f

Back to back Arc winning mare Treve is back and she’s expected to win on her return in preparation for her bid to glory in October. She’s all class and the should win this if things go normal, as everything works in her favour – even the soft going, which she enjoys.

However I simply can’t let a filly go which I was desperately waiting to see again: Sea Calisi. Still lightly raced and improving all the time, this will only be her sixth start. She was progressive throughout the year, won a French Group 2 and went on to finish a mightily unlucky third in the Group 1 Yorkshire Oaks, where she travelled in rear, while the pace was slow and it was a big advantage to be up with it.

Winner, second and fourth where all prominent or making it, while Sea Calisi travelled strongly, but had a tough task to come from behind when she also didn’t enjoy the clearest of runs. She produced a strong change of gear on rain softened ground nonetheless, given the impression there is more to come.

It’s tough ground at Longchamp today and that is a slight concern as she has never raced on softer than good to soft before. However she has an abundance of stamina in her pedigree and plenty of soft ground form on her dam side.

I believe this filly can give Treve a real run for the money, if she copes with the conditions. She may can capitalize on her fitness advantage, but whatever happens, shouldn’t be far away.

Sea Calisi @ 23/1 Betfair – 5pts Win

Ireland

Sunday Big Race Previews – Curragh

September 13, 2015 Florian Christoph Leave a comment

It’s been a hack of a day at Leopardstown yesterday! Thankfully we were blessed with some lovely sunshine for most parts, although it didn’t prevent Gleneagles from being withdrawn. Nonetheless the Irish Champion Stakes turned into an afair full of drama and afterthought. Johannes Vermeer’s 7/1 win made it a profitable day for me -I shall gonna review the whole thing in more depth later on, but for now let’s focus on leg two of the Irish Champions Weekend.

2.35 Blandford Stakes Stakes (Group 2), 1m 2f

The Curragh didn’t get as much rain as I would have expected, so we have nearly perfect conditions, although I have the slight feeling it will ride a bit tacky. Tapestry returns to the track and sets a good standard and the one to beat if she is able to race to her best today. Ground and trip are fine for her, but it’s a deep race and her price offers little value given the fitness questions.

To an extend the same applies to Bocca Baciata, at least if it comes to her price. I fancy the three year old to run well today, after she was ultra impressive here at the Curragh the other day. But this is a tougher race today, a slightly different trip and ground. We’ll find out whether she is up to it. I guess she is, but I don’t want to find out with my money.

Ultra consistent Ribbons should go close once again. She hasn’t won in a dozen starts now, and that is a slight concern. The French are represented with Kataniya, who looks vulnerable over the 10f trip. I’m not sure what to make of Carla Bianca. Back after an unsuccessful trip to the US, she can be anything today.

The most intriguing runner is British raider Lady Tiana. Ideally the ground would be a bit softer and the trip a bit longer. But she looks a filly still open to progress. She had only two starts this season, was desperately unlucky on her seasonal debut and made up for it in July when landing the Group 2 Lancashire Oaks in most impressive fashion.

I believe she can be competitive in today’s conditions for reasons that she is a very strong traveller, with high cruising speed who also possess a sharp turn of foot, adding to the fact that she is two from three over the 1m 2f trip.

Lady Tina @ 12/1 Paddy Power – 5pts Win

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3.40 Moyglare Stud Stakes (Group 1), 7f

Will we see next years 1000 Guineas winner in this race? Maybe. There has been plenty of talk about the Aiden O’Brien trained Ballydoyle in recent weeks – after a slow start to her career, she finally her talent when winning two on the bounce in excellent style. She’s got a Group 2 CD win to her name now and therefore has earned rightfully her place as favourite today.

But how will she cope with the slightly easier ground? We’ll see. She’ll have to be at her best, that’s for sure, as Dermot Weld’s classy filly Tanaza adds another dimension to this race. This Dubawi filly coped well with quick ground on her first two career starts, when she produced a sharp turn of foot. Conditions today will suit perfectly.

Weld has been full of appreciation for Tanaza after winning the Group 3 Silver Flash Stakes at Leopardstown a shade cosily back in July. So she may well be the real deal. At the given odds it is a no-brainer for me to select her against short priced favourite Ballydoyle.

Tanaza @ 5/1 Paddy Power – 5pts Win

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4.15 Vincent O’Brien National Stakes (Group 1), 7f

This should come down to a battle between Air Force Blue and Herald The Dawn. The two top rated male juveniles of their generation have both a bright future ahead, if their last performances are to believe.

Potentially the best juvenile sprinter around at the moment, Air Force Blue proved his class in the Group 1 Phoenix Stakes last month where he trashed a deep field. He’s likely to be able to stretch out anther furlong, but I wouldn’t bet a short price doing it as powerful as he did over 6f.

Herald The Dawn looks a star miler in the making. He won the Group 2 Futurity Stakes over CD last month, making hard work of it in horrible ground. He’ll appreciate the sounder surface today. He looked smart when getting off the mark in a Naas maiden before on quick ground and Jim Bolger has been quoted saying that this lad is as good as his full-brother Dawn Approach was. Bold words!

Herald The Dawn seems a cracking bet in a race where nothing else really stands out. He’s more than double the price of Air Force Blue, and therefore easy to back.

Herald The Dawn @ 9/4 VC – 10pts Win

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4.50 Irish St Leger (Group 1), 1m 6f

Intriguing contest, much deeper and more interesting than the Doncaster equivalent which ended in a joke yesterday – Bondi Beach won the race in the stewards room. it gives trainer Aiden O’Brien the chance of a “Leger Double”. He saddles favourite Order Of St George who was a wide margin winner of the Irish St Leger trial. He was a close runner-up behind Bondi Beach a couple of weeks before over course distance, too.

Personally I’m not yet convinced OOSG stays the Leger trip as powerfully as he will have to in order to be successful in this very deep renewal. He has been outstayed by Bondi Beach before, and the same scenario looms today when he faces some top class stayers.

Last years winner Brown Panther comes back from a eserved break which he enjoyed after a successful campaign at Meydan. He has done remarkably well as a fresh horse in the past, so a big run is expected once again. Although this renewal looks stronger than last years race.

Kingfisher is an interesting contender, if he’s able to find back to his best form. He is a strong stayer as he proved in the Ascot Gold Cup. Cumani’s Second Step may improve for the step up in trip and could well be in the mix. That says he certainly needs to find a couple of pounds to feature.

Progressive Agent Murphy has been a revelation this season. He has taken step up in classes easily and has now the chance to prove his worthiness on the highest level. For all of that he should appreciate the Leger trip.

I haven’t lost faith in Forgotten Rules, yet. He was outstayed in the Ascot Gold Cup when 3rd eventually on unsuitable quick ground. Nonetheless, a strong performance. Once can ignore his last performance in the Group 3 Curragh Cup when a long way beaten by Bondi Beach and Order Of St George as the run came only ten days after Royal Ascot, and therefore way too soon.

However Forgotten Rules is still a pretty lightly sort, actually. And therefore could be open to further progress. So far he has won four out of six career starts and had excuses in the last two, as outlined. He’s a major chance in my book with conditions sure to suit.

You can’t rule out Sea Moon completely. He’s back in Europe after an unsuccessful time in Australia and was a fair second over course and distance behind OOSG in the Leger Trial, albeit a long way beaten. That run may have blown the cobwebs away and he could sneak into the placings today.

Wicklow Brave is a fine stayer in his own right but hard to fancy in this company. Brittish raider Vent De Force looked an outstanding staying prospect in the making earlier this season but has only been disappointing since.

Forgotten Rules @ 11/2 Coral – 5pts Win

United Kingdom

Big Race Preview: St Leger

September 12, 2015 Florian Christoph Leave a comment

Only seven go to post in this years St Leger, which shapes to be a below-par renewal. Its status in the world of racing has diminished in the last decades, but this year seems a real low point. Further to this you can add the likelihood of softish ground. It won’t be an exciting race to watch and not one that will live beyond today in our memory.

Anyway, the favourite Storm The Stars is a very decent individual. He finally scored on Group level when he landed the Group 2 Voltigeur Stakes in a controversial finish. In other countries, his interference with Bondi Beach would have cost them the race – not so in Brittain.

Stepping up in trip will Suit Storm The Stars though. He looks an out and stayer and will probably fine on the soft ground. He is a fair favourite.

Ballydoyle has two good chances in the race. Bondi Beach looks a progressive stayer. He was unlucky in the Voltigeur as pointed out before. This trip will suit him down to the grounds and he’s fine on the ground. He’s a better chance than Fields of Athenry, who flopped in the Ebor.

While I fancy Bondi Beach to win the Leger, for price reasons do opt with Medrano. He is a long way off the standard to win a Group 1… normally. However this is not a normal Group 1. It’s a poor one. The ground will play right into his hands, and so should the trip. He has a pretty good chance to be able to pull out a bit more over 2m. For a big price, he’s the one I select against the more fancied runners.

Medrano @ 33/1 Paddy Power – 5pts Win

Ireland

Big Race Preview: Leopardstown Races

September 12, 2015 Florian Christoph Leave a comment

4.40 ISEBF Handicap, 1m 6f

I’ve been a big fan of Sherlock Holmes since he finished a promising fifth on his debut at the Curragh. This big, leggy colt had some tough assignments to past since then, pitched into a maiden at ultra-sharp Ballinrobe, and subsequently Bellestown. He passed those tests with flying colours, despite being obviously not suited by the sharp bends and undulations at both tracks.

He is a half-brother to Breeders Cup Classic winner Drosselmeyer, so quite well bred, indeed. He looks to have plenty of scope for further improvement in the staying division, particularly when finally racing on a more galloping track again. Today is his chance. Leopardstown should suit down to the grounds and a good draw will help his prominent racing style.

As a three year old he gets plenty of weight, though Anastasia O’Brien claims additional 5lb. The ground is a slight concern, but given his big price tag, is a risk I’m prepared to take.

Sherlock Holmes @ 10/1 Coral – 5pts Win

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5.15 Enterprise Stakes (Group 3), 1m 4f

I’m not sure if Fascinating Rock truly stays this trip,so I oppose him easily given his short price tag. Answered is right in the mix here and so is John F Kennedy if he can find back to his best, but hardy Panama Hat is the one hard to oppose as 11/2.

This 12f trip should be exactly the right test he wants. Ground won’t be an issue and he is in super form, given his recent Listed win at Roscommon and subsequent runner-up effort in the American St. Leger.

Panama Hat @ 11/2 Betred – 5pts Win

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Matron Stakes (Group 1), 1m

I love Legatissimo and on form she is clearly the one they all have to beat – but despite being a 1000 Guineas winner, I feel this drop in trip doesn’t suit her. The reason is very much the pace angle: at Newmarket a suicidal pace played right onto her hands and stamina. The same scenario is unlikely today.

Amazing Maria is well respected for obvious reasons. If this race doesn’t come too soon after her recent antics in France, she’s right there when it matters.

However this race screams for an upset in my mind. That brings Ger Lyons’ Ainippe right into the mix. This progressive filly has won two Group 3’s over 6f and 67 subsequently in recent weeks and looks ready to step up to 1m which should suit alright on pedigree. I was really impressed with the way she put away her opposition at Tipperary when last seen.

The ground is a slight concern, as she has done her best work on a fast surface. But she is by soft ground loving Captain Rio, so probably is just fine. In my book she is a better chance than 25/1 – she has all the right tools to cause a major upset.

Ainippe @ 25/1 Paddy Power – 5pts Win

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6.50 Boomerang Stakes (Group 2), 1m

Plenty of these are closely matched – the official ratings tell its own story. Hard to distinguish them, although on form Lightning Spear and Custom Cut are the solid selections.

However for a bit of value I’ll go with Onenightidreamed. This lightly raced four year old is back from a break but has won on his seasonal debut this year the Irish Lincolnshire. He went on to land a Group 3 here at Leopardstown over 1m subsequently. Since then he’s been off.

According to his trainer, Onenightidreamed is very ground dependent. He needs it soft. His form backs this up. So the overnight rain must have been a huge relief for connections. Now, the sun is shining and the ground is drying again. It probably will be quite tacky though and that should be good enough for Onenightidreamed. He’s clearly progressive and a battler, who has to improve on his bare form but is obviously open to improvement.

Onenightidreamed @ 16/1 Betfred – 5pts Win

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Preview: Juvenile Stakes – Read Here
Preview Irish Champion Stakes – Read Here

Ireland

Leopardstown Preview: Juvenile Stakes

September 12, 2015 Florian Christoph 1 Comment

4.05 Juvenile Stakes (Group 3), 1m

Tricky renewal with some hot prospects in the line-up. Bolger’s Sanus Per Aquam makes plenty of appeal with excellent form in the book and the step up in trip sure to suit. He’s a very short price though in a race where plenty of potential is still unlocked.

Ballydoyle has a strong hand in this renewal, which Aiden O’Brien won with John F Kennedy last year. Shogun looked smart when he got off the mark at the Curragh earlier this year, but didn’t enjoy soft ground subsequently. So the overnight rain is a big concern, as the inside track is unlikely to dry out enough to suit him.

Seemingly second string, albeit you never really know with this yard, is Johannes Vermeer. Equally an exciting prospect, he impressed me with his nice action and change of gear at Killarney. He put stamina questions to bed as he never seemed to stop in the 1m 100y contest. He may not be too inconvenienced by the ground, given his pedigree.

Dermot Weld’s True Solitaire is another one to like. A big winner at the Galway Festival, he doesn’t mind rain softened ground and is sure to respond well to the step up to 1m.

Restive for Ger Lyons looked a bit lazy, albeit smart enough to held off his opposition in a Curragh maiden recently. He’s a scopey individual, but may not run due to the ground. His other charge Waipu Cove has been in excellent form lately and could do still better, however is more exposed than others here.

Conclusion: Hard to predict what happens. Nonetheless I believe the 7/1 for Johannes Vermeer is rather over the top. I like his pedigree, he’s bred to be precocious, gets the trip, has a good draw and should be okay on the ground.

Johannes Vermeer @ 7/1 Paddy Power – 5pts Win

Ireland

QIPCO Irish Champion Stakes – The Preview

September 11, 2015 Florian Christoph 1 Comment

Saturday 5.45pm – The race that promises to be the race of the season won’t be what we all hope it will be. The clash of Gleneagles vs. Golden Horn is unlikely to materialize yet again as the weather god doesn’t want to comply with the prayers of racing fans. The rain arrived in Dublin early Friday afternoon. Since then it was a mix of drizzle and lashing. It’s hard to see the word “soft” not being part of the going description at Leopardstown….

That’s the worst case scenario. But hey, this is Ireland! You can’t trust the weather gods. What about a bit of Indian summer on Saturday? Well, we’ll wait and see.

A hopefully more or less dry night should ensure at least that John Gosden feels encouraged to let Derby winner Golden Horn take up his assignment in the Irish Champion Stakes. Gleneagles – we can be sure – is going to be withdrawn by midday latest, should the rain persist.

Now, that might be sad and disappointing, but thankfully doesn’t mean that the race turns into a dull affair. Not at all! One could argue the rain adds to the intrigue.

Assuming Golden Horn runs, he’s obviously the horse to beat, despite his recent defeat in the Juddmonte International. No, he’s no superstar, though still a really good horse. It’s been his only below par run – if you can call it that way; a runner-up effort, beaten by a neck, in a muddling affair, which is what the International was.

But Golden Horn won the Derby and Eclipse in convincing style. The memories of him putting away top class Jack Hobbs at Epsom are certainly still fresh. Without the shadow of a doubt, John Gosden’s “starrider” warrants the upmost respect.

High class yet fragile – these are the attributes of Dermot Weld trained Free Eagle. He has been one of the start attractions on each of the last two Irish Champions Stakes days at Leopardstown. In 2013 he went off the 2/5 favourite in a Group 3, having earned dramatic quotes for next years Epsom Derby after an impressive debut win. However his hops where shattered that day…. by a certain horse called Australia. Subsequent injury problems made him lose almost an entire season then.

He came back after a year long absence and smashed a fine field in the Group 3 Enterprise Stakes on the inaugural Irish Champions Weekend. Heavy ground was against him in the British Champions Stakes subsequently, but after another lengthy absence he made a winning return at Royal Ascot to land the Prince of Wales’s Stakes.

While this form gives him a big chance in the Irish Champion Stakes, given that he probably wasn’t 100% at Ascot, and may well improve again, it is the ground that really worries me. Free Eagle is clearly best suited by fast conditions. So any rain must count against him.

Found is one of those horses I find difficult to assess. She has done well over a mile this year. Just beaten in top class company by narrow margins. She then stepped up to 10f and won in tremendous style – albeit only in Group 3 company. Personally I wasn’t sure about her stamina given her dam side not instilling too much confidence.

But question mark, more than anything else, is whether she is good enough in this extremely deep race. It’s by far the toughest test of her career and while the ground may not be a problem, I fear she’s likely to fall short over this trip against this classy opposition.

If you want, you can make plenty of excuses for The Grey Gatsby this season. He’s never encountered his ideal conditions, albeit performed still with plenty of credit on most occasions. But it seems that everything has to fall right for him in order to win these days. He’s out to defend his crown, which he won in such dramatic style twelve month ago. I’m surehe won’t down with a fight once more, but it’s been too many excuses for The Gray Gatsby now to make me believe he has what it takes to regain his title.

Cirrus Des Aigles has been a legend for a number of years now and there are no signs of him slowing down. His most recent performance when finishing last at Longchamp can easily be ignored as he lost a shoe during the race. He won the Group 1 Prix Ganay earlier this year though and judged on that performance appears to be as good as ever.

Whether that is good enough to win the Irish Champion Stakes remains to be seen. One thing is for sure: He’ll appreciate any single drop of rain. The more the better for him.

Fillies should find it tough in this deep field – however Jim Bolger’s hardy filly Pleascach can’t be underestimated. A winner of the Irish 1000 Guineas and the Group 1 Yorkshire Oaks, she has top class form in the book and acts on any kind of ground. However it seems she might be even better with a bit of cut in the ground – so any rain falling is hardly an inconvenience for her.

She has obviously a bit to find on official ratings, however may well be able to progress further. With conditions sure to suit, she rates a big danger for anyone in this field – in my book at least – and I feel she doesn’t get the credit she deserves.

The same could be said about Highland Reel, who is back in Ireland after a successful stint in the USA where he won the Grade 1 Secretariat Stakes. First time lasix and fast ground clearly worked wonders. But he won’t find the same conditions here for obvious reasons and is clearly an underdog.

What if – against all odds – Gleneagles does run? Well, it would mean we have at least good ground. And that can only be a good thing! As it offers the fairest conditions for everyone.

He’s been the star three year old this season. Overshadowing Golden Horn in my mind. He’s been ultra impressive as a juvenile and continued where he left of last year. Question is: what did he actually beat in those races since? There seems not too much high quality around the mile division in the current generation of three year olds, to be fair.

But you can only beat what is put in front of you. And Gleneagles has mastered all challenges so far – even when things went against him, as happened in the Irish 2000 Guineas. But does he stay the trip? Well, fair question. As a son of Galileo you would hope he has a fair chance to do so. Though his dam was never successful beyond 6f and the dam sire has a stamina index of 7.7f. Gleneagles full-sister Marvellous also failed to stay trips beyond a mile.

What does this mean for Gleneagles? We don’t know. Only time will tell. That’s why it would be so intriguing to see him racing.

Conclusion: It’s all hangs on the Irish weather and how much rain Leopardstown takes. The track usually drains well. A dry night and and a dry, warm Saturday morning later and we may have less of a problem with rain softened ground. Irregardless of that, Pleascach is the one I side with as I believe 16/1 is way too generous. She won’t mind whatever ground we get, has top class form in the book, is hardy and tough and is sure to give the boys a run for their money.

Pleascach @ 16/1 Paddy Power – 5pts Win

Ireland

Laytown Races

September 11, 2015 Florian Christoph Leave a comment

It couldn’t be more different from any other racetrack in the country – the Laytown Races – this annual meeting, not held on turf or an artificial surface….. but on the beach! This provides the most unique scenery one can imagine for a horse race: dunes, sand and of course the wild Irish Sea! Hosted for the first time in 1868 at Laytown beach, only a half an hour drive from Dublin City.

Once a year when the tide is low, they build this temporary track on the beach. It doesn’t take much: a rail, a winning post – and there you go – bring on the horses!

Now, I finally made it to Laytown myself. Took me only four years living on the green island to get a Thursday off! The place was rocking when I arrived. No doubt helped by the Irish weather god who was kind enough and sent the sun as the guardian for the afternoon.

Crowds were enormous around the parade ring. It almost felt “Cheltenham like” – no joke! Down on the beach things where a bit more quit and relaxed. Someone sunbathing here, kids playing in the mud there… the horses thundering past only a couple of meters away! Where else do you get that close to these magnificent creatures in full flight?!

And that’s the reason why Laytown proves to be enormously popular with racing fans – locally and internationally. You’ll be hearing plenty of foreign accents…. and cameras! SO many people with cameras! And I mean, not the cheap ones. No, the really good DSLR’s, with some extremely expensive glass attached to it! I looked like an amateur with my D7100 and Tameron telephoto lens. But hey, I’am, after all….

So, what’s the conclusion? Well, Laytown is awesome! It really is. If you ever get the chance – go! You won’t be disappointed. It’s such a unique place… a really beautiful one….. a really special one.