While the rest of us are trying to pull ourselves out of the January doldrums the racing fraternity is completely immersed in business as usual. Today is the Ladbroke Hurdle at Leopardstown, a race that has been gathering considerable cachet in recent years and the cream of the racing community is expected to turn up.
The celebrations started before the race even got under way at the Ladbrokes/Fitzpatrick pre-race gala dinner in Fitzpatrick Castle hotel in Killiney last night. As usual there was a clutch of politicians expected, including Brian Cowen and his wife Mary, Sean Barratt, Ivan Yates and his wife Deirdre.
From the racing fraternity came horse-owner Frank Conroy, bookmaker Joe Donnelly and his wife, Hospice Foundation chairwoman Marie Donnelly, and Denis Brosnan of the Kerry Group, who is also head of the Irish horse-racing authority. Also wining and dining were Justice Liam Hamilton and his wife Maeve; Charlie Murless of Punchestown; Frank Reihill of Tedcastles; Jed and Paula Pierce of Pierce construction, and Paddy Fitzgerald, chair of the Fitzgerald Hotel Group together with his off-spring, Eithne Scott Lennon and Paul Fitzgerald. Today's hot tip and focus of much attention is Dermot Desmond's horse, Commanche Court, trained by RTE commentator Ted Walsh. After winning one of the major races at last year's Cheltenham Festival, Commanche Court is favourite for the race particularly with the addition of jockey Charlie Swan. Charlie usually rides for Aidan O'Brien but got the day off to ride the potential winner.
Other people expected on the race course this afternoon are Mike Dillon of Ladbrokes, celebrating their takeover of Corals bookmakers last week, and trainers Jim Bolger and Noah Meade, who both have horses running.