Glamour galore but politicians are hard to find

PUNCHESTOWN FESTIVAL:POLITICIANS WERE hard to find at the Punchestown racing festival yesterday. The sun shone and there were plenty of glamorous racegoers among the almost 16,000 in attendance; political representatives were like ephemeral wood nymphs, there were rumours they existed but no confirmed sightings.

Someone said Deputy Willie O’Dea had been spotted emerging from a chauffeur-driven vehicle, but there was no photographic evidence and despite a hunt in hospitality tents, no one saw the moustache.

In the Clane GAA fundraising tent, reporters were assured local deputy Áine Brady was ensconced with a selection of local councillors. And Noeline McCreevy, wife of former EU commissioner Charlie, was there to judge the best dressed lady from Clane competition, but without her husband and again there was no actual visual contact,

Football fans fared better though, with former Irish internationals Ray Houghton and Ronnie Whelan attending, as well as Aston Villa manager Martin O’Neill, there to support JP McManus. And for golfers, Pádraig Harrington and his wife Caroline were present.

As is usual at Punchestown, there was plenty of style. Kay Mulcaire (35) won the day’s Arnotts best-dressed lady competition. She received a €1,000 shopping voucher and entry into the overall competition today. In a silk and chiffon dress and jacket, she introduced reporters to a new colour – “citrus”.

But it wasn’t only the female racegoers who put on the style for the day. Many of the bookmakers had made a big effort for the festival and among the most stylish was Rosario Mellett of Mayo from Jim Desmond Bookmakers. In fitted black and white shift dress she added a touch of elegance to the line of bookies set up between the viewing stand and the race course.

Working at Punchestown for the last five years, she was offering 2/1 on Ainama in the opening race, but wasn’t giving any tips. “I never do, I don’t even bet myself,” she said.

The festival was quieter than usual, but had been a good one for bookmakers so far, she said.

“Last year was very bad; the punters cleaned us out,” she said. “But we’re ahead this year.”

Not to be outdone in the sartorial department, bookmaker Paddy Ennis from Gorey was looking dapper as he took bets in a navy blue pinstripe with pink shirt and spotted tie. He first attended Punchestown in 1950 . “It’s a good day for the bookies.”

Asked for a tip, he generously offered Quevega in the big race, the Ladbrokes.com World Series Hurdle. With a purse of more than €100,000, the race was a popular one with punters and Quevega, the favourite, came in at 5/2. The mare is owned by the Hammer Trowel Syndicate, Sean Deane from Leitrim and Ger O’Brien from Kildare.