Three weeks to Cheltenham Preview Night in Westport

Panel confirmed ahead of preview night


Three weeks to exciting Cheltenham event in Westport

Michael Duffy

The Ballinrobe Race Committee are now at an advanced stage in their preparations for their fundraising Cheltenham Preview Night which is to take place in Hotel Westport on Tuesday, March 3, just a week before the white flag will be raised for the first time at the world famous meeting on Tuesday, March 10.
All proceeds raised at the event are in aid of the Injured Jockeys Fund and Ballinrobe Racecourse PRO Ger Geraghty is delighted to this week announced that Paddy Power, Ireland’s largest bookmaker, have come on board and will be providing all the support they can to the event.
Mr Geraghty also thanked The Mayo News for getting involved as media partners and said that the organisers were looking forward an informative and enjoyable night.
As already announced, Master of Ceremonies for the night will be a familiar face from both horse racing coverage on Channel 4 and on RTÉ, Mr Tom Lees, and Mr Geraghty added he was delighted to announce that two of Ireland’s top jockeys will also be present.
“We are delighted, at such a busy time for all the jockeys, to have Andrew Lynch and Adrian Heskin on board for our preview night. Andrew has been one of the top jockeys in this country for many years and has fond memories of high profile Cheltenham wins on the great Sizing Europe and also on Berties Dream.
“Adrian Heskin is as exciting a young jockey as we have had in Ireland in a very long time. He has already tasted Cheltenham success aboard A New Story and as retained rider now for all powerful, Barry Connell, he goes to the festival dreaming of more success.”
Paul Flynn, winning trainer of the Galway Hurdle with Moon Dice in 2011, will also be on hand to give his thoughts on which of his training colleagues in Ireland are most likely to be successful raiders between March 10 and March 13.
And Paddy Power will so be sending down one of their senior traders from ‘Paddy Towers’ to provide all the expert opinion on the betting markets when we will just be one week out from the festival itself.
Finally, Racecourse Manager at Ballinrobe, John Flannelly, has been working hard to organise an auction on the night and he is delighted to confirm that up for grabs will be a photo of the great Hurricane Fly, signed by his successful jockey for so many years, Ruby Walsh. Another prize on offer at the auction is a meal for a table of 10 at Ballinrobe Racecourse for one of their meetings this race season. So all in all, it promises to be a night to remember for all west of Ireland National Hunt racing fans at Hotel Westport this March 2.

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The cost of entry will be €15 with all proceeds going to the Injured Jockeys Fund. All punters in attendance will receive a ticket to any race meeting at Ballinrobe Racecourse in 2015 and also a €5 matched bet voucher from Paddy Power for Cheltenham. Powers are also donating a free €100 charity bet to every member of the panel in order to raise even more money for this worthy cause. Ticket details will be announced in next week’s edition.