FESTIVAL THAT PACKS A PUNCH

Simon Nott has a week to remember as the Irish jumps season draws to a close

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I’d never been to the Punchestown Festival before so was very much looking forward to the meeting this year. The weather forecast didn’t look too good so had plenty of wet and warm clobber packed, despite it supposed to be the warmer end of spring.

I was working with AK Bets all week so right in the thick of it. He had a large team working the two pitches. For those that aren’t aware, in Ireland they takes bets on both sides of the rail where he bet number 1. He also worked a Tatts pitch down in the middle of the front row as well as a pitch up in one of the restaurants where they charge a nice few quid a head. The hope was that the well heeled would spend as much betting as they did posh grub and champagne. If anyone was going to get them betting it was part time ‘Ethical Celebrant’ Dave O’Reilly who was manning that post, all week apart from when he was in Tipperary (the long way joke was overdone on the day) to marry a happy couple.

The team was Jamie, Des, a 50year veteran of the game that loves this magazine so nothing bad to say about Des even though there’s nothing bad to say about Des, Graham who prefers to remain in the shadows, Dave ‘Tidler’ Tyrrell ex professional footballer and Shamrock Rovers legend, AK the boss and his Dad Tony. Here are the highlights of the week.

I was told that Tuesday would be the slowest day of the week and so it proved. The lack of money saved the betting ring when the first two jollies, Shecouldbeanything at 7/2 and Facile Vega at 4/6f. If you can’t take it you can’t lose it. Energumene also obliged winning at 2/7 but with not takers with AK at the price, though anyone that did lump the mortgage on might have needed a defibrillator a couple of times during the race.