Go Onyeahgoodthing's unenviable distinction as the last horse to run in Ireland will soon come to an end. Since she trailed in last in the concluding bumper at Naas on 25th February, our sport has been locked in an enforced hibernation.
Foot-and-mouth has had a crippling effect on racing, but with the resumption on Easter Monday now within touching distance, it should not be long before the industry is back on its feet.
Little did any of us know that the first outbreak of the disease at Brentwood in Essex on Monday 19th February would wreak such havoc. Day after day as the nightmare unfolded in Britain, Ireland has held its breath anticipating the inevitable, but now the worst is seemingly behind us and normality can gradually resume.
The first major gathering of racing industry personnel in two months came on Tuesday in the Keadeen Hotel in Newbridge Co. Kildare. The occasion was the annual Irish Flat Racing Awards lunch.
The day went well despite the absence of four recipients. One of those, Vincent O'Brien, was enrolled into the Hall of Fame as a mark of respect from his peers. The legendary trainer took time out during his stay in Australia to send a message via the internet, while his son Charles was on hand to collect the prize on his behalf.
The issuing of two leading trainer awards, one for the most winners and one for the most prize-money, is a novel attempt to curtail the present master of Ballydoyle's monopoly in this category.
Can you imagine the shock and disappointment of Norman Mason and Richard Guest when they awoke nursing hangovers on Monday morning to see the front page of the Racing Post?
To be involved with a Grand National winner is the ultimate dream for almost all lovers of the sport. For that dream to become reality must be so special that you would want to savour the moment forever.
You get a video of the race, buy all the Sunday papers and then on the Monday you rush down the newsagents to see you and your horse plastered all over the front page of the Racing Post. At least that is how it should be!
The Racing Post betrayed its readers last Monday. Instead of saluting the National winner in the time-honoured way, the paper chose to hijack the moment with Alistair Down's scathing attack at the decision to run the race on such bad ground.
Whether or not you agree with his point of view, surely the front page was not the place for such an article on this most hallowed of days?
My personal highlight from the National was the fourth fence exit of Inis Cara. I hate to see jockeys lose rides on horses on little more than the whim of an owner (usually with no resistance from weak willed trainers). Michael Hourigan, however, is a man of principle and deserves much credit for the stand he took on behalf of jockey Robbie McNally. When the owners decided to replace him with Robert Widger, Hourigan said that unless McNally was aboard, the horse would not appear with his name next to it.
The Owners had their way and Inis Cara moved to the stable of Venetia Williams, leaving Hourigan and McNally out in the cold, but justice was done when the gambled-on co.fav fell early. Perhaps next time owners will think twice before flexing their muscles in this manner and leave these decisions to professionals.
Thats it for now, I`m off to wash the car.
