Champion line-up unveiled for 2014 NI Festival of Racing at Down Royal
Anna Henry, Matt Chapman, Mike Todd, Noel Meade, Mick Fitzgerald and Miss NI Rebekah Shirley
Photographer Matt Mackey Press Eye.
Biggest names in British racing behind record level of entries
Ireland’s leading trainers and many of the top horses in the national hunt world will take part in this year’s Festival of Racing at Down Royal Racecourse, taking place on the 31st October and 1st November. The world-class line-up was confirmed at the Festival launch in Belfast today, with the biggest prize fund of any race meeting in Northern Ireland also revealed as well as the biggest ever number of entries for Northern Ireland’s richest Chase.
At the launch, which was attended by leading racing figures Matt Chapman (At The Races), Mick Fitzgerald (Channel 4 Racing) and top trainer Noel Meade, it was revealed that the pot over the two days is a massive €430,000. This includes the WKD Hurdle on the Friday worth €50,000, which was won last year by legendary local jockey AP MCCoy on Jezki who went on to win the Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.
The JN Wine grade 1 Chase on the Saturday, Northern Ireland’s richest chase with a whopping €140,000 for the winner, has a record number of entries this year with 21 horses including last year’s Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Bob’s Worth, and On His Own who came second in the same race in March this year.
Leading National Hunt trainer Paul Nicholls will have four entries to the grade 1 chase alone. Paul, who has trained over 2000 winners to date, won the 2012 Grand National, four Cheltenham Gold Cups and has been crowned British jump racing Champion Trainer eight times.
The Festival comes as a major, multi-million pound investment programme at Down Royal Racecourse reaches completion, with a brand new social space due to be unveiled ahead of the Festival.
Down Royal Manager Mike Todd says race-goers will enjoy an unrivalled National Hunt experience.
“This will be an adrenalin fuelled two days of racing, with an incredibly high standard of entry. The festival always attracts a wealth of talent which, in the past has included the legendary AP McCoy who won the Grade 2 Hurdle for the second time last year.
“Once again, this is the highlight of the Northern Ireland Racing calendar providing an unrivalled experience for racing fans here. With some of the biggest names in Irish and International horse-racing, we are looking forward to another incredible event at Down Royal.”
Complementing the packed racing card is the Best Dressed Competition on Saturday 1st November, sponsored this year by international design supremo Kris Turnbull who will also judge the event alongside In! Magazine’s Hayley Harrison, and NI Gossip Guy Neil Cole. This year’s winner will jet off to Monaco on a four-star holiday of a lifetime. The dream trip includes return flights, three nights 4-star accommodation in the Fairmount Monte Carlo, breakfast, return helicopter transfers and dinner on one night at the exclusive Fairmount hotel.
The Festival of Racing takes place on Friday 31st October and Saturday 1st November. Gates open at 11am on both days; with the first races starting at around 1pm. Admission is £12 on Friday and £15 on Saturday. Tickets can be purchased online, from the racecourse office, or at the turnstiles on the day.
Visit www.downroyal.com for more details or to book tickets. More information is also available on social media sites www.facebook.com/down-royal-racecourse or on @twitter.com/downroyal.
ENDS
For more information contact:
Ali Fleming ali@lkcommunications.co.uk 07738789817/ 02890427004
Jo Huddleston jo@lkcommunications.co.uk 07595068763/ 02890427004
NOTES TO EDITORS
Mick Fitzgerald At the Races and Channel 4 Racing presenter Mick Fitzgerald is a former jockey who rode his first two winners in 1988, later winning the Grand National on Rough Quest in 1996. He is a two-time winner of the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 1996 and 1999 (See More Business). Since his retirement in 2008, he’s been sharing his encyclopedic knowledge of the sport with TV viewers across the country.
Matt Chapman Matt spent eight years as a journalist on the Racing Post and four years with the Racing Channel before joining the At The Races team. He became fascinated by foreign racing after two and a half years at the International Racing Bureau, in Newmarket, and has also been PR director for the Tote and agent to top Flat rider Darryll Holland.
Noel Meade
Noel started training in 1970 with one horse Tu Va – 30 years on he passed the 2000 winner mark in 2008 and is well on his way to 3000. His first major breakthrough came In 1978 when Sweet Mint won the Cork & Orrery Stakes(Golden Jubilee) at Royal Ascot, and he was crowned champion trainer in the 1999/2000 season. He is now the proud holder of 7 champion trainer awards and 9 leading trainers’ awards for the most winners.
