Cheltenham Preview night is ready for off in Westport

Cheltenham Preview Night is ready for off


WITH just two weeks left to the famous roar ahead of the Supreme Novices Hurdle, anticipation is building ahead of what is sure to be another vintage Cheltenham Racing Festival.
West of Ireland National Hunt racing fanatics will get the chance to whet their appetites next Tuesday night, March 3, in Hotel Westport when the Ballinrobe Racecourse Cheltenham Preview Night will be staged.
This fundraising preview night is being held in conjunction with The Mayo News and Paddy Power Bookmakers and all funds raised will be donated to the worthy cause of the Injured Jockeys Fund.
Racecourse manager at Ballinrobe, John Flannelly, said the idea of the Preview Night was to give racing fans in Mayo and further afield the chance to get some pointers ahead of the biggest festival of them all, while also bringing the racing community together ahead of another season of racing at Mayo’s only racecourse.
Tom Lee, racing presenter and tipster with both RTÉ and Channel 4 Racing, is MC for the evening and joining him at the top table are:
Adrian Heskin: The rise star of the Irish weighing room who is now retained jockey for powerful owner Barry Connell. Rides Foxrock in the Gold Cup for Ted Walsh.
A second top jockey is also due to be added to the panel later this week.
Paul Flynn: Trained Moon Dice to win the 2011 Galway Hurdle from his Longford base and will be passing on what horses his fellow trainers fancy for this year’s big races.
Paul Ryan of Paddy Power: Ireland’s leading bookmaker are sending their top trader who will have the lowdown on the major market moves for this year’s festival.
Michael Duffy: Editor of The Mayo News and Ballinrobe Racecourse announcer.
John Flannelly said they were delighted to have Tom Lee travelling from Britain to host the event.
“Tom came racing with us in Ballinrobe last year and loved the atmosphere so he can’t wait to come west again and meet everyone. Paddy Power have been of great assistance to us and will be providing all the booklets and footage on the night, along with free bets for everyone who attends and a charity bet for the top table, which is more than generous.”
Ballinrobe Racecourse PRO Geraghty has also been heavily involved in the organisation of the event.
“As one can appreciate, it can be difficult to get jockeys and trainers to travel west just one week ahead of the festival so it’s great to have a jockey who will be riding at the festival, Adrian Heskin in attendance, along with Paul Flynn, who will have all the inside knowledge from his training colleagues.”