It’s a beautiful day at the races as Bono and Ali step out for a flutter
Collins Photo Agency DAY OUT: Bono and Ali spent the day at Leopardstown with Jim Sheridan
By Lorna Nolan
Wednesday December 29 2010
IT came two days late, thanks to December’s record snowfall, but the Leopardstown opening meeting proved a winner for U2 rocker Bono when he stepped out for a flutter.
Fresh from his recent trip to Australia, the Vertigo singer, who is a regular attendee at the annual St Stephen’s Day meeting, was joined by his glamorous wife Ali Hewson and their children.
And while this year’s delay in festivities proved a deterrent for many, with punters down to 10,278 in comparison to the 14,206 race-goers who flocked to last year’s Lexus Chase meeting, Bono was determined he wouldn’t miss out.
In a nod to the recessionary times, the Dublin singer left his Maserati at home this year. The rocker was in jovial form as he posed for pictures and wished photographers and members of the press a “Merry Christmas” on his way to a private VIP box, where he joined a group of pals.
However, he was not giving anything away when it came to rumours that US talk show queen Oprah Winfrey is interested in giving him his own show.
Also spotted enjoying a spot of gambling from the comfort of a private box yesterday was RTE presenter Brian Ormond and a number of friends.
The TV star’s fiancee Pippa O’Connor was absent from his side, however, as she was laid up in bed with the flu.
Trainers Noel Meade and Willie Mullins were also in celebratory form, with both enjoying double wins on the track.
Meade’s Pandorama claimed the feature race, The Lexus Chase, in impressive style under jockey Paul Carberry, with another horse from his stable, Prima Vista, coming up trumps in the next race.
Mullins, meanwhile, saddled Mourad to win the Woodiesdiy.com Christmas Hurdle, as well as unleashing a possible future star in the Madigans Maiden Hurdle when his horse So Young made a winning debut in Ireland.
Among the big names spotted was former Taoiseach Albert Reynolds, who was enjoying a day out with his son Albert Jnr, who had jetted home from the US for the holidays.
Lingering
Other well-known faces included Tom Parlon, Charlie Chawke, Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary, Gillian Walsh, wife of champion National Hunt jockey Ruby Walsh, trainer Jessica Harrington and jockey Tony McCoy. FRuby and Ted Walsh were also on hand to provide coverage for RTE.
And while racecourse officials were delighted that the weather held up throughout the afternoon, there were some lingering problems caused by the snow, with the track’s water supply dwindling as the meeting progressed.
Yesterday’s meeting also provided a welcome lift for both Bookies and the Tote, with figures up on last year.
Tuesday’s Tote figures for seven races came in at €503,535, compared to last year’s €258,748 for five races. Bookies meanwhile raked in €930,180 versus last year’s €755,449 for five races. The last two races of the day had to be called off due to fog.
See Diary, Page 20
- Lorna Nolan
