The Dail horse, much to the disappointment of the 17-strong Leinster House syndicate, failed to make it to Fairyhouse this week. Quidnunc's inside source tells her Grand Alliance just wasn't ready and remains in training with Noel Meade. "He has not raced at all yet, and the trouble is none of us has seen him. We just hope McDaid doesn't overdo it when he does run and ruin the price on us."
So when will we see him? Punchestown? "He's only a five-year-old and is too young for Punchestown, which is tough. He'll go shortly, when he's six or seven is time enough." Then the insider was off to Fairyhouse himself and much relieved that his Leinster House colleague, the Minister for Tourism etc, was far away in Australia on a 10-day tour promoting Ireland. Since his high-profile Cheltenham win McDaid is less than popular with the more modest punters, and reports from down under say news of the £75,000 has reached there too.
McDaid was in Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and Canberra. He viewed the Olympic village, taking particular note of the 50metre pool now that his own plans for one here are held up in the courts. He even ran into Joe McDonagh, president of the GAA, who is organising a compromise rules game in October, in no less a place than the hallowed grounds of the Melbourne Cricket Club.