With Lady Luck…
Those of us who have chosen sport to define our lives need this Lady on our side…
With her in our camp, the wildest dreams can be made glorious reality…
But when she turns her moody back and throws her favours elsewhere, the gnawing agony of dread defeat can eat away at the soul…
The pain of defeat lasts so much longer than the wondrous high of victory…
Sport and high drama and fine margins and Lady Luck…
Yesterday, at Gowran Park, the running of the iconic Thyestes Chase tore at several heart strings as a scarce believable horse race was played out in a muddy corner of Kilkenny…
At the start, a few jockeys playing a poker hand. Paul Townend in particular. Aboard the heavily backed Mullins favourite. “No Sir, No Sir” as he wheeled his mount away from the others. All looked well, but Paul clearly was not happy with his position, and decided to play his joker…
To no avail, as he and Captain Cody slithered to the ground at the fifth fence…
By which point, Spanish Harlem was giving 7 pound claimer Sean Cleary-Farrell a wild thrill as he tanked along in front. Jumping for fun, coming out of the kid’s hands at the fences, an “also ran” of Willie’s contingent at 28/1, but giving a mighty sight in front….
Through the last mile, those with chances packing up on the lead whilst others were finding the cloying and the deep too much…
Turning for home, Spanish Harlem still prominent, but with a pelaton of challengers all around…
Jerry Hannon, Ireland’s answer to Peter O’Sullevan, charging through the octaves…
The run to the last, Jerry in overdrive, Sean somehow still in front, his life on the cusp of a massive sea change as the Thyestes is falling into his young hands…
Spanish Harlem two or maybe three lengths clear of toiling rivals and on a good stride. Sailing over. But for Sean, utter agony as he is bounced out of the saddle and tumbles to muddy turf, his dream shattered, and maybe his life changed…
Last night would have been very long and dark for this youthful rider, and I hope and assume that there will have been strong Closutton arms around those young shoulders. This will hurt very badly. Here’s hoping that redemption is swift, and that this is no more than an early blip at the start of a long and successful career…
With Spanish Harlem riderless and irrelevant, the tale turns to Mark Walsh. After years of solid service, his job as JP McManus’ number one jockey has been ripped away. Harry Cobden taking the mantle from May onwards – and so here is Mark on the cusp of winning one of Ireland’s biggest races in the famous colours that in a few short weeks will be on somebody else’s back….
Two or three lengths clear, and home for all money. Until…
Now Is The Hour has long threatened to win a big one. His trainer Gavin Cromwell had snapped a losing streak earlier in the card, and somehow young Eoin Staples (another kid on the bottom rung but climbing now…) is forcing his mount closer…
At the line, Jerry in overdrive as he calls the head bobbing finish. Mark Walsh’s fairytale grabbed away in the last stride. For young Eoin, a day of days…
A microcosm of our sport. Of all sports. Lady Luck playing several hands, and ripping at several hearts and souls. Sport, Bloody Hell…
Watch the race in the link below – skip through it to the unbelievable ending…
Elsewhere, my man Clancy’s cool horse Cool Jet is an Eclipse Award winner stateside. Some achievement by Sean and Annie. Riverdee Champion owners, and now this. Not under celebrated for sure…
I walk past Eclipse’s stable every morning. Circles…
