Here's a top tip if you are heading out to the third day of the Galway races: be sure to eavesdrop on the betting deliberations of Bertie Ahern.
The Taoiseach backed three of the first four winners yesterday and only missed out on a clean sweep because the owner and trainer of one winning horse insisted the animal hadn't a hope.
"I spent half an hour with Jim Bolger before the third race and he told me that his horse had no chance, so I didn't back it," said Mr Ahern, shaking his head ruefully. In the event the Bolger-trained Feabhas romped home at eight to one.
Undaunted, the Taoiseach returned to the bookie stand in the plush Fianna Fáil marquee where he put a fiver each way on Vinthea, which he confided had shown good form at Ascot. Generously, he shared the tip with The Irish Times, who unwisely ignored him and - it being the Galway races - put her money on One More Round. Vinthea came up trumps at eight to one winning the Taoiseach almost €50.
The hospitality village, where guests are showered with free drink and food all day, is worth a visit if only to check out the corporate portaloos. They have maroon wallpaper with gold flecks, a tasteful carpet and gold fittings.
The village can be found by turning right at the champagne tent in the main arena. With the sun shining yesterday, it was packed with people in odd hats sipping bubbly and swopping race tips. A new attendance record at Ballybrit was set for the day, with 22,268 punters filing through the turnstiles. Queues for the "hot beef in a roll" stand provided as good an indication as any of the festival's success.
Inside the Fianna Fáil tent, the 200 guests dined on smoked chicken caesar salad and prime fillet of beef chasseur, followed by chocolate and raspberry mousse with strawberries and cream. Tomorrow, 450 people will pack into the tent for one of the biggest days of the week-long festival. Tickets are scarce, but it might be worth considering if you have €3,200 to spare to buy a table for 10.
Among the politicians studying the form were Minister for Agriculture Joe Walsh, Minister for Social and Family Affairs Mary Coughlan, Minister for Foreign Affairs Brian Cowen, former Minister of State Bobby Molloy and junior Ministers Jim McDaid and Tom Parlon. Ethel Fahy, the wife of Minister of State Frank Fahy, had brought five female friends. Joe Walsh, with his wife Marie and next-door neighbours, backed winners in the first two races. Racing people love the festival because of the mixture of flat and jumping, he said. "It's a high risk business," he explained. "And Irish people love that."
The tent wasn't only full of the party faithful, said Ms Fiona O'Loughlin of the National Women's Forum. "It's a great part of the races and a lot of non-party people always want to come," she said. "I think it's because Fianna Fáil knows how to have fun."
Photographers jumped at the chance to get a snap of Ahern with his partner Celia Larkin, who looked elegant in a taupe-coloured trouser suit but there was no sign of the Claddagh rings the couple were presented with in Galway the day before. The Taoiseach was asked about recent rumours regarding his relationship but dismissed the question saying he had nothing to say "about that stuff".
"Got any tips," shouted almost everyone as the Taoiseach passed by. He just smiled and waved his race card. Winner all right.