Sunday May 30th will see Leopardstown Racecourse hosting what has become known as Ireland’s biggest Youth Raceday. Gaisce Raceday, which serves to support the ‘Gaisce-The President’s Award’ program (Ireland’s National Challenge Award for young people aged 15 to 25). As this year marks the awards 25th anniversary, organisers at Leopardstown are doing their best to make it a special occasion for everyone involved.

A generous percentage of takings from the door will be donated to Gaisce, who will also receive all the proceeds from an innovative fundraiser to be staged at Leopardstown.
Donors to the Gaisce project are invited to purchase gold or silver feathers to be mounted on a large fibreglass angel designed by Lar Griffin, which will be signed with the donor’s name and mounted on the sculpture.

And – naturally – there will be some excellent racing action to keep the masses entertained. Gaisce Raceday features seven races; two of which serve to fight out the much anticipated Flat vs. National Hunt Jockeys’ Challenge. The National Hunt jockeys’ team, headed by Ruby Walsh, is comprised of Barry Geraghty, Andrew McNamara, Davy Condon, Paul Carberry, Davy Russel , Robert Power, Niall Madden and Andrew Lynch, will be facing off to their flat racing colleagues.
The Flat Jockeys’ team is made up of Kevin Manning, Wayne Lordan, Pat Smullen, Fran Berry, Gary Carroll, Chris Hayes and Declan McDonogh, and will be lead into battle by Johnny Murtagh. The teams will compete in two events, and while the competition is in the spirits of good fun and a good cause there is just enough rivalry between the two camps to guarantee a couple of veracious races.

Gaisce Raceday also features an exhibition of Ireland’s racing and breeding industry, a number of live bands including The Champters and Von Shakes, a performance from the Hallelluia Gospel Choir and much more. Designed specifically as a day out for families and young people, Gaisce Raceday at Leopardstown is a great event to occupy your Sunday – be it with a group of friends or the family.

Admission is free for children under the age of fourteen.

Jockey Timmy Murphy, who was riding for his father-in-law and Merigo owner Raymond Anderson Green, led his mount to the front of the thirty-strong field – an remarkable achievement, considering the general reluctance and madness which ensued in the back of the field. Out of the thirty runners only seven horses managed to finish the race. Seventeen of the contenders pulled up at various obstacles; five runners fell and Lothian Falcon unseated rider Robert Walford. Walford, along with According To John’s jockey Dougie Costello, was taken to the hospital following the fall. Denis O’Regan, who rode and fell with That’s Rhythm, was denied another ride on the day due to concerns for his health.

At the front of the field however, the atmosphere was crackling. While the race was led for a long stretch by young Sam Twiston-Davies on Razor Royale, Murphy motivated Andrew Parker-trained Merigo at the forth-last fence to great effect. Although Gone To Lunch, under the direction of Barry Geraghty, gave chase to the best of his ability, he was left behind once Merigo found his stride. Brian Hughes and No Panic attempted a breakthrough towards the end, but only managed to overtake the slowly weakening Razor Royale and race to a valiant third place.

Merigo is the first Scottish winner of the Scottish Grand National since Cockle Strands won the chase in 1982.

Barry Geraghty, who has performed spectacular throughout the Festival, was lost in the large field and came 17th out of twenty starters on Henderson-charge Tetlami. The last race of the Festival at Aintree brought home for the last time the fact that the Aintree races are amongst the most spectacular and competitive event of the racing calendar.

Distance: 2 miles, 1 furlong – Winning Time: 3:59.9

The race was not one of the most elegant affairs. Out of forty starters only fourteen made it across the line, although no horses or jockeys were seriously injured in the many falls that occurred. Last year’s winner Mon Mome took a fall at the 26th fence, the second O’Neill charge in the race – Can’t Buy Time – fell at fence number eight. McCoy, who had only on Thursday announced which one of O’Neill’s starters he would be riding, has clearly chosen correctly.

However, while a large part of the field succumbed to the notoriously difficult course and fences, it seems almost every jockey and trainer to make it to the finish line is simply delirious with joy. Seventeen-year-old Sam Twiston-Davies, who was competing at Aintree on special permission from the British Horse Racing Authority, rode to fifth place on Hello Bud, trained by his father Nigel. Sibling rivalry was decided in favour of little sister Nina Carberry who scored seventh place on Character Building, while brother Paul Carberry’s mount King John’s Castle refused to even enter the mad house that is the Grand National. Barry Geraghty, who replaced Ruby Walsh on Big Fella Thanks, and made it to fourth place.

Cerium, the horse trainer Paul Murphy insisted run in the Grand National, fought his way through the mob to position eleven. However, the perhaps greatest performance of the race was runner-up Black Apalache. The eleven-year-old kept his cool and held his own throughout the manic race, consequently battling his way into second place. Trainer Hughes is delighted with his performance, and jockey Denis O’Regan announced his mount to be one of the best rides of his career.

Distance: 4 miles, 4 furlongs – Winning Time: 9:04.7

The Novices’ Hurdle turned into a two-horse race within moments, when Menorah and General Miller pulled away from the field and began a lengthy duel for supremacy. Although the last two hurdles saw Menorah mobilising every last shred of power, General Miller – under the guidance of Barry Geraghty – matched him stride for stride and snatched a victory of sheer determination; by a nose length at best.

Trainer Nicky Henderson is delighted with his charges efforts, happy to see the five-year-old show off his abilities, especially after the fall at Cheltenham, which Henderson has put down to a stroke of bad luck.

Distance: 2 miles, 110 yards – Winning Time: 3:55.8

Pistolet Noir under Ruby Walsh fought his way to a valiant third place for Paul Nicholls; while favourite Ainama was having trouble from the start, awarding trainer Nicky Henderson and kockey Tony McCoy a comparatively disappointing seventh place.

Distance: 2 miles, 4 furlongs – Winning Time: 4:58.1

PU = Pulled Up, F = Fall