PUNCHESTOWN FESTIVAL:MICHAEL O'Leary may have retired his super racehorse, War of Attrition, at Punchestown races yesterday but he assured reporters that there would be plenty more wars of attrition with the EU and other airlines.
Yesterday was one of the Ryanair chief executive’s best days out when his famous horse almost won the Gold Cup on what was officially its last race before retirement. The great horse came within a head of winning the €135,000 prize money, which this year went to the English raider Planet of Sound, owned by CGM Lloyd Baker and ridden by Robert Johnston.
There in the field, too, was Denman, the great hero of the British turf, who was being ridden by Tony McCoy. He looked in trouble from early out, pulling to the left as he jumped, and finished in fourth place.
At the end of the race Planet of Sound just held on from the final assault by War of Attrition, but all the attention was for the Gigginstown horse when the animals were brought back into the parade ring.
The normally unflappable O’Leary was visibly excited, running over to the horse and jockey Davy Russell, congratulating them both and telling all around him it was a great run.
“Apart from the birth of my children, this horse has given me the best days of my life,” O’Leary said. He had previously said winning the Gold Cup “was probably the greatest day”.
“As long as I own racehorses we will never repeat it,” said O’Leary, as he accepted a special presentation of a horse blanket from the racecourse.
“That is the second Gold Cup winner he has beaten. He beat Denman today, he has also beaten Kicking King and we are taking him home to retire and to go hunting for the next few seasons. He will not run again.”
O’Leary added: “It’s a terrific way for him to retire. We have another great video to watch.”
Meanwhile, the winner of the race, Planet of Sound, and trainer Philip Hobbs stood by while round after round of applause echoed around the parade ring.
One could believe the recession was over because yesterday there was an increase in attendance at the grounds: 17,057 patrons went through the turnstiles, 811 more than on the corresponding day last year.
Among the attendees were former taoiseach Albert Reynolds, who was at the corporate day out with the Longford GAA club, and golfer Padraig Harrington, who presented the cup to the winner of the first race, the JP McManus, Handicap Hurdle. JP himself will be announcing details today of his pro-am golfing tournament in Limerick but promised to attend Punchestown in the evening.
The fine weather brought out the women in their finery. Many have been competing in the Arnotts Best Dressed Lady competition. Yesterday's winner was Granard, Co Longford woman Oniesa Owens, who was wearing a €390 Marchesa dress, and whose husband, Jonathan, is the producer of the Crystal Swing group's Hucklebuck.
The festival continues until Saturday evening.