Irish Champion Hurdle Day at Leopardstown

[Arkwright]

Apologies for the quality of some of these,as you will have realised the weather was a touch on the inclement side.

Baskin Gael & Lenabane lead early doors in the opener.

The main stand

Manor Park leads at the last but will be caught close home by Alexander Severus

Follow the Plan (John Cullen)

Forpadydeplasterer (Belinda)

Stablemates Golden Silver (Paul Townend) & Jayo (Ruby Walsh)

At the business end Golden Silver will just get the better of the arguement with Forpadydeplasterer

Rubbish picture but gives you some idea of what the conditions were like as the disappointing Jayo finishes tailed off after a sketchy round of jumping

Golden Silver in the winners enclosure

Back on the Road (Alan Crowe) one of many mud splattered runners after the handicap chase

 

[Arkwright]

Hairy Molly,who showed a bit more spark to finish just out the places

Central House who finished a gallant third off top weight

Ted Walsh & Robert Hall

Ruby Walsh

Muirhead

Sublimity

Hardy Eustace

Philip Carberry

Ruby

Beau Michael

 

[Arkwright]

Studying the form

Brave Inca

Larkwing (David Casey)

Muirhead (Belinda)

River Liane (Paul Townend)

Hardy Eustace (Paddy Flood)

Sublimity (Philip Carberry)

Swiftmarc (Alan Crowe)

Brave Inca (Ruby)

 

[Arkwright]

Coming round the final bend

Looks like it is just a matter of time before Muirhead goes past....

...but Brave Inca kicks on again

Thou shall not pass!!

Over the last!

And goes further clear.....

.....Muirhead gives vain chase but can't prevent Brave Inca gaining Grade One win number ten!

 

[Harbinger]

Great stuff Arkers!

 

[Arkwright]

Let's see if I can touch my nose with my tongue!

Continuing the celebrations

Fair Ina leading the field in the novice hurdle

Roberto Goldback will go on to cause a shock

Oscar Dan Dan down the field

Baron De'l

Bookies pricing up prior to the handicap hurdle

And last but not least,a non racing related piccy of the Ha'penny Bridge

 

[Grey]

Well done, Arkwright.

 

[Cantoris]

Some great photos there. Must work on getting rid of the double chin though!! Paul, is it ok if I use some of these on my website.

Thanks

O

 

[PRICEWISE2008]

Some great shots there..thanks for those Arkwright

 

[trudij]

Told you it was just a light shower !!! Not sure Hairy Molly was well named for that pic either....


that bridge photo is STUNNING - right up there with the one Dims took of the ferris wheel at the show last summer....

 

[trackside528]

Love the picture of Golden Silver and Forpadydeplasterer in the closing stages of the Irish Arkle.

Fantastic.

 

[Melendez]

I second that, plus the one of Jayo you said was rubbish.

 

[G-G]

Brilliant stuff.

 

[Muttley]

Lovely stuff, Arkers! Very well done in those awful conditions ...

 

[Shadow Leader]

You can't help the rain!

Well done Arkers, very well done.

 

[Isinglass]

Crikey these are some wonderful photos! You'll be going pro on us next......

I really love a whole lot of them. That weather looks pretty bad and you captured it perfectly.

Love the ones of Brave Inca natch as big fan of his.

The one of the bridge is so stunning.

Looks like a magical weekend and the photos tell the story so well.

 

[an capall]

Lovely piccies Arkers.

Just a word of warning - I thought Jayo was beaten by less ground than he surrendered with two blunders. Don't write him off - the Arkle is a maze and something has to win it.

 

[betsmate]

Super pictures.

 

[Songsheet]

Lovely photo documentary, Arkers! Brilliant stuff indeed. The picture of the connections receiving the trophy is just perfect!

 

[Arkwright]

Thank you all for the very kind words,it is much appreciated.

I'm no pro but enjoy the photography as a hobby greatly so hope I can continue to pursue it.
The pleasing part about that set is that I haven't had to crop too many.
Of course if you don't like a piccy you can soon delete it whereas with a film you never knew until developed whether a piccy was any good or not.


If you saw how many attempts it took me to get that photo of the bridge,it must have taken 30 or 40 to try and get one that didn't blur.
Problem is that unlike some I am not used to using flash photography as I rarely take photos in the dark.
Really pleased to eventually get that one and would say it's my favourite from the ones taken from the whole weekend.

 

[Diminuendo]

Well done mate, you deserve the credit. As you know, it ain't easy taken horse racing photos. Your enjoyment shows in the photos.

 

[Diamond Geezer]

Nice set of images there Paul. Love the Sublimity ones, have stroked that famous nose when I visited John Carr's stables at the end of 2007.

The horse, not the jockey wise guys.

 

[RayH]

Excellent photos on both threads. Many thanks.

 

[crazyhorse]

uss usual late to find. great photos, paul, thanks so very much for sharing. like this light irish country rain!