It’s that time of year, when the build-up to the Cheltenham Festival really kicks into gear. For National Hunt racing fans then there’s nothing quite like it. Week by week the excitement builds before it all gets underway on Tuesday, March 10.
To help make sense of it all and try to get a couple of decent tips from the experts ahead of the Festival, many of us make it our business to attend at least one Cheltenham Preview night and this year in Waterford we’re lucky to have four great nights with excellent lineups.
First up is a night that made its debut on the circuit last year and it’s back bigger and better than ever this year, it’s the Tramore GAA Cheltenham Preview night which will be held in the club’s hall on this coming Thursday, February 19. The proceeds of the night will be shared between the club and a charity of their choice.
The lineup of racing experts on the night will be former Irish champion jockey and key member of the Willie Mullins team, Paul Townend, local festival winning trainer, Henry de Bromhead, Carlow trainer, John ‘The Shark’ Hanlon, Johnny Ward of the Irish Racing Post, first jockey to Alan Potts and up and coming star, Jonathan Burke, local amateur jockey, Paul Power and former jockey and proud Lismore man, Ken Whelan. Tickets are 15 euro, which includes a free ticket to the next meeting at Tramore Racecourse and a five euro matched bet from Paddy Power. Tickets are available from the club centre, Dooly’s chippers and Quish’s Supervalu. Kick-off on the night is 8pm.
Then on Monday next, February 23, the Park Hotel in Dungarvan will play host to the Lismore GAA club preview which gets underway at 8pm. On the panel on the night will be Hennessy Cup winning trainer and Dungarvan native, John Kiely; fellow Waterford trainer, Henry de Bromhead; top English based and Cork born NH jockey, Noel Fehilly; former Grand National winning jockey and now assistant trainer, Carl Llewwllyn and Dungarvan bookmaker, Noel Cummins. MC Ken Whelan will also be conducting live phone links with Barry Geraghty and Patrick Mullins. Tickets are 10 euro and are available from the Park Hotel or any Lismore GAA club committee member. This includes a five euro Paddy Power bet.
Next up is the Woodlands Hotel Preview Night at 8pm on Thursday, February 26 sponsored by Ladbrokes and in aid of St. Vincent de Paul and Pieta House.
On the panel again this year will be former multiple English champion jockey, John Francome; former Irish champion jockey and last year’s Gold Cup winning rider, Davy Russell; Nick Luck and Jim McGrath of Channel 4; the Racing Post’s legendary tipster Tom Segal (Pricewise); first jockey to the powerful Gigginstown Stud, Bryan Cooper; the trainer of last year’s Champion Hurdler (Jezki) and countless other Festival winners, Jessica Harrington and Hayley O’Connor of Ladbrokes. As usual the whole thing will be steered by the excellent MC, Ardmore’s Brian Gleeson of RTE and Channel 4. Tickets are 20 euro and are available from the Woodlands Hotel.
Last but by no means least is the Gaultier GAA preview night which takes place at the Spinnaker Bar in Dunmore East on Saturday, March 7. The panel will be made up of leading Irish tipster, Donn McClean; Henry de Bromhead; Ken Whelan; Cheltenham Fesitval winning jockey, Denis O’Regan and two local tipsters and Waterford News & Star Champion Tipster Challenge competitors, Richard Finnegan and Tyrone Power. Today FM’s racing tipster and sports editor, John Duggan will be the MC on the night. Tickets are 10 euro, from which a donation will be made to the RNLI and the Dunmore East First Responders Group. Tickets are available from the Spinnaker Bar and Gaultier GAA club committee members. It gets underway at 8pm.
