The biggest smiles at Ballybrit yesterday could be seen on the faces of three local men who scooped the top prize of the Galway Festival when their horse romped home at 20-1.
"I can't believe it, I just can't believe it," said Martin Cuddy, from Loughrea, Co Galway, one-third of the MGH syndicate which owns the Michael Hourigan-trained Rockholm Boy, the surprise winner of the Galway Plate.
"I thought I was lucky to have a horse running in the plate let alone have a winner," said Dr Hugh Bredin, Oranmore. "I just want to get out of here now and have a beer," laughed Gerry McMahon, Craughwell, the third syndicate member and the man who bred the winning horse.
Even the fortune teller who was doing a roaring trade outside Ballybrit racecourse yesterday couldn't have predicted the big win.
Martin, Gerry and Hugh (they named the syndicate after their first initials) were already planning the celebrations and didn't notice the blizzard of torn up betting slips falling like confetti around the racecourse. "He is a small horse but a brave horse and we are delighted with him," said Martin.
The cold weather meant attendance figures were down on the third day of the festival. Organisers reported crowds of just over 26,000, but hoped attendance might reach 40,000 for Ladies Day.
The politician count was high at the races yesterday. Fianna Fáil Junior Minister Jim McDaid made a small fortune having backed the plate winner among other prescient bets. Finance Minister Charlie McCreevy revealed he was also up money.