Colour purple reigns as Most Stylish Ladies step out at the races

There was a purple theme to the Most Stylish Lady (MSL) competition at Fairyhouse on Ladies' Day yesterday, no doubt so that the outfits could complement the skin colour.

It may have been the coldest day in Irish history but that was little deterrent against bare arms, bare legs or – inexplicably – bare backs, of which there were a few. The key skill in modelling an outfit is not just to look amazing. It is the ability to not shiver and to smile fixedly while doing so. Because of the cold, never in the history of make-up has so much been used by so many and to such little effect. Thankfully, the going was verging on “yielding”, which made balancing on stilettos less of a gamble.

If dressed to the nines was an ambition for the MSLs, it was also the name of Tony McCoy’s mount in the 2.40 – the Keelings Irish Strawberry Hurdle. Two miles and four furlongs later, it was a broad smile AP was dressed in.

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Maria Kelly and Sarah Hunt from Enfield, Co Meath, at Fairyhouse yesterday. Photograph: Brenda Fitzsimons

Back on the MSL stage ,it was clear common sense had broken out with the 10 shortlisted women appearing more covered than uncovered.

Martha Lynn won the best hat prize for a stunning creation that defied the wind and remained in place. On a day like this, who wants to be a milliner?

Presenter Brendan Courtney suggested the whole country was represented but neglected to mention three of the four provinces that never made the cut. Evidence of recessionary times came in the admissions that some hats or belts were home-made while the occasional accessory was "borrowed from my mother". It was Caroline Hassett's day, though, and it was she who got the €8,000 prize from Carton House – but RTÉ's Maura Derrane should have got a prize for the largest hat of the meeting.

There was a grand national cheer for Jane Mangan who brought home the winner Akorakor in the point-to-point.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny met the jockeys before the grand national and he got tackled by a Lady With A Grievance (LWAG) about the state of the nation.

Gentleman that he is, a windswept Enda let her have her say. The LWAG wouldn’t give her name to curious reporters and left the ring simmering. Helen McEntee, glowing after a great week at the Meath East byelection, was at Enda’s side.

On the track, it was 50-1 outsider Liberty Counsel who came home to a disbelieving crowd and, of course, the delighted bookies. Jockey Ben Dalton, looking slightly bewildered with his win, said he asked his mount “to go long” and that’s what happened. That’s how you win a national, apparently.

It was a good day for the women, with Dressedtothenines winning the first, Jane Mangan taking the point-to-point and Dot Love training the national winner, all watched by the Dáil’s newest TD. Ladies’ Day indeed.