It's all of two years since the last GWID brightened up the depths of winter, so it's time to do one again. Leopardstown's new two day meeting on Sat 28 and Sun 29 January presents a fine opportunity.
The Sweeps/Ladbroke/Pierce/MCR hurdle is on the Saturday, along with the Leopardstown Chase. Sunday features the Irish Champion Hurdle, the Irish Arkle and the Golden Cygnet hurdle, a Grade 2 novice event. Better still, the last race each day will be a bumper.
Flights to Dublin that weekend will be reasonable; it is low season and there are no big matches or other events taking place to fill the planes and hotels. And Bewley's Hotel at Leopardstown, 10 minutes walk from the racecourse turnstiles, is doing a very good deal that weekend. For €89 per night two people can have a twin or double room, breakfast, and free admission to the raceourse. (Thanks to Betsmate for pointing this out). A bus from the airport to the hotel costs about €15 return.
A tram service on the hotel's doorstep will take you into town on Saturday night for a meal and a night out. We might be given complimentary passes to a certain night club, provided we promise not to dribble and drool as much as some of us did the last time.
If enough people are interested Cantoris will arrange a visit to Colm Murphy's yard on the Saturday morning. That would involve an early start, however, so we would look at staying overnight on Friday somewhere close by. Colm's yard is in Co Wexford, about sixty miles from Dublin.
Preliminary soundings suggest that most of those who took part in previous years are foolish enough to come back for more. It will be fun to meet up again with these reprobates and to meet some new faces. Try and make it if you can, all are welcome.
The Sweeps/Ladbroke/Pierce/MCR hurdle is on the Saturday, along with the Leopardstown Chase. Sunday features the Irish Champion Hurdle, the Irish Arkle and the Golden Cygnet hurdle, a Grade 2 novice event. Better still, the last race each day will be a bumper.
Flights to Dublin that weekend will be reasonable; it is low season and there are no big matches or other events taking place to fill the planes and hotels. And Bewley's Hotel at Leopardstown, 10 minutes walk from the racecourse turnstiles, is doing a very good deal that weekend. For €89 per night two people can have a twin or double room, breakfast, and free admission to the raceourse. (Thanks to Betsmate for pointing this out). A bus from the airport to the hotel costs about €15 return.
A tram service on the hotel's doorstep will take you into town on Saturday night for a meal and a night out. We might be given complimentary passes to a certain night club, provided we promise not to dribble and drool as much as some of us did the last time.
If enough people are interested Cantoris will arrange a visit to Colm Murphy's yard on the Saturday morning. That would involve an early start, however, so we would look at staying overnight on Friday somewhere close by. Colm's yard is in Co Wexford, about sixty miles from Dublin.
Preliminary soundings suggest that most of those who took part in previous years are foolish enough to come back for more. It will be fun to meet up again with these reprobates and to meet some new faces. Try and make it if you can, all are welcome.
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