Builders taking to the turf

The house-building industry came to a virtual stop again this week when the big players took time out for Punchestown. Now a big corporate event, the builders are among the lavish entertainers at the week-long meeting. Many of the Dublin builders have a string of horses in training either under their own colours or in consortiums. One group that didn't repeat their Cheltenham success was the High Street Racing Syndicate which saw its horse Sausalito Bay tire early in the fifth race. This was a disappointment for Martin Lydon, Liam Maye, Brian Wallace et al but look out for horses owned by Sean Mulryan, Seamus Ross, Frank O'Malley and Michael Whelan, some of the wealthiest builders in the country.