Delay proves a friend to jockey Thomas on Sir Alex's chaser

Punters had to brave rain, wind and cold for an eight-race card yesterday at Leopardstown, writes MICHAEL O'REGAN

WHAT A friend circumstances and the weather turned out to be for Sir Alex Ferguson and jockey Sam Thomas at a rainswept Leopardstown yesterday.

The Manchester United manager’s horse was entered for a feature race of the four-day event, the Lexus Chase, only a week ago, when plans to run the Hennessy runner-up elsewhere were rescheduled.The late entry cost Sir Alex a fee of €15,000.

However, it turned out to be a mere 10 per cent of the prize money of €150,000 which he collected yesterday, when the appropriately named What A Friend was first past the post.

Welsh-born jockey Sam Thomas saw a heavenly influence in the postponement of the race on Monday until yesterday because of heavy fog. Sir Alex was in the parade ring when stewards bowed to the inevitable. He flew back to England on Monday night because of sporting commitments there.

Thomas was drafted in to replace Barry Geraghty, who was required at Newbury yesterday.

“Everything happens for a reason and the gods must have been looking down on me,” said a mud-spattered Thomas after yesterday’s victory. “Thank goodness for the fog.”

Manchester United scout of 38 years Joe Corcoran, from Ringsend, Dublin, was keeping a close eye on events on Ferguson’s behalf.

“ I suggested to him yesterday that I would look after the team, while he stayed and looked after the horse,” said Corcoran.

“ I thought I might have the job of Manchester United manager for a day. But he said to me that I should stay and look after the horse.”

Corcoran said that friends of his had been in touch with Ferguson after the race to tell him the good news.

“He was very pleased,” he said. “I believe he was in tears.”

The 7,647 punters braved rain, wind and cold yesterday. Those driving to Leopardstown had headlights on in the modest mid-morning traffic jam approaching the racecourse.

At the course, the queue for the ATMs , always a barometer of business, was equally modest.

Traders outside the grounds had slashed their prices for fruit and chocolate as cold and wet punters made their way home later in the day. There were few takers.

Bookmaker, Newstalk broadcaster and former Fine Gael minister Ivan Yates was in upbeat humour.

“It is a great day’s racing,” he said. “You got the best of yesterday’s racing with today, an eight-race card which was fantastic.”

Yates, who has 60 bookmaking shops in Ireland and Wales, said that expenditure on betting on horses was down about 20 per cent from 2007.

“The number of bets has not actually decreased,” he added. “Instead of people putting €50 on a horse, they are putting €20.”

Yesterday’s attendance of 7,647 was down on last year’s figure of 10,348 for the same day.

Betting also showed a decline, with bookmakers’ takings down from €1,405,989 to €1,171,517, while the take on the Tote was down from €400,358 to €368,297.

The accumulated figures for the four days were also down on last year: attendance, 51,010 from 59,379; bookmakers, €4,411,537 from €6,439,689; Tote, €1,553,863 from €1,926,539.