The extent of the Irish business recovery can be measured in growth as has been done in the FT and the Economist in recent days; but a more visceral example can be gauged from the departure lounge at Dublin Airport this morning with rising numbers heading to Cheltenham for the annual National Hunt Festival.
Ireland punches above its weight in a number of sports but few to anywhere near the same extent as horse racing where expectations of victory have been well matched in recent years and prize money, as well as glory and betting returns have very much headed in a one way direction from the Cotswolds back to Carlow, Meath and other racing venues at home.
The star performer today promises to be Douvan in the Racing Post sponsored Arkle Chase, the second race on the card. Hailed as perhaps the best that Champion trainer Willie Mullins has handled that is no mean feat and while you will not get rich backing him at odds of only 1.40 he is one that could carve his name in history for another 50 years, just as Arkle himself did 50 years ago this year.
The Champion Hurdle is the highlight of the day with Mullins again providing Ireland’s main hope in Annie Power. She has only been beaten twice in her 15 race career but both of those came in the last two Festivals so she has something to prove, especially after a last fence fall last year that reportedly saved bookmakers from an €80 million payout on a well backed Mullins run of three winners that could have been four.
The tapes go up on the first race at 1.30 today and for many that will herald a disappearance from the normal run of life events until the Gold Cup on Friday.
