MINISTER FOR Transport Leo Varadkar’s cryptic tip ahead of the fifth race at Leopardstown was Lastoftheleaders, which was ultimately a non-runner.
Vardakar, who avoided the chop despite picking the losing side when Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny reshuffled his front bench in the aftermath of a failed heave in 2010, also suggested a flutter on Reizovic in the handicap hurdle.
Despite the dream combination of jockey Tony McCoy and owner JP McManus, Reizovic came in fifth in the race won by Cass Bligh with jockey Ruby Walsh.
Luckily, Vardakar had backed a winner in the steeplechase earlier.
A cluster of young men in suits stopped the Minister as he strolled through the racecourse complex, claiming to be constituents of his in Dublin West and asking him to pose for a photograph. “What are you going to do with it,” an uneasy-sounding Varadkar asked.
Minister for Children Frances Fitzgerald was at her Fine Gael colleague’s side, elevated in red-soled high heels. Happily the going was good to yielding. “Two Ministers in a photo. This is a good day,” one of the young men laughed.
Also milling around was Vardakar’s newest constituency colleague, byelection winner Patrick Nulty, who famously jumped early and forfeited the Labour whip over budgetary cutbacks before the party could break him in.
The Fine Gael Ministers had come from the hospitality suite in the pavilion, a veritable political “winners’ enclosure” yesterday, where some well-groomed Coalition TDs had pride of place at the window seats.
Tánaiste, Labour leader and Minister for Foreign Affairs Eamon Gilmore and Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources Pat Rabbitte were there, as was Taoiseach Enda Kenny’s senior special adviser Mark Kennelly. Former taoiseach Bertie Ahern and former minister for agriculture Joe Walsh were among the Fianna Fáil figures present.
Outside, fans of Forpadydeplaster were easily identifiable by their red and white scarves echoing the candy-striped silks of jockey Bryan Cooper. “Come on Paddy, come on Paddy, come on Paddy” they chanted, but Big Zeb took the prize and owner Patrick Redmond’s sister Mary declared herself “elated”.
In a sign of the times, two young men returned from working in London for the Christmas period were busy calculating what their modest winnings would be worth in sterling.
The feature race, the Paddy Power steeplechase with a healthy pot of €190,000, was won by Cross Appeal.
Young racing fans rushed to legendary jockey Paul Carberry as he entered the winners' enclosure, asking him to sign his recently published autobiography One Hell of a Ride. Referring to Cross Appeal, trainer Noel Meade said: "The better ground was a big help to him." The unseasonably mild temperatures and clear viewing conditions made the day a pleasure for all punters.
Many remarked on the contrast with last year, when precious racing days were lost to snowy conditions.
Anne Doyle, who delivered her last RTÉ news broadcast on Christmas Day, was there, as was broadcaster and bookmaker Ivan Yates.
The normally stern Ceann Comhairle Seán Barrett, one of the Leopardstown stewards, rendered himself virtually unrecognisable by sporting a broad smile throughout the day.
Also enjoying a day at the races, with varying degrees of success, were former taoiseach John Bruton; former Fianna Fáil deputies Seán Power and Charlie O’Connor. Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary, binoculars slung over his shoulder, strode through the winners’ enclosure and exchanged pleasantries with JP McManus, in a belted black coat.
Chief executive of children’s charity Barnardos Fergus Finlay and Christine Buckley, director of the Aislinn education and support centre at Jervis House in Dublin also attended.
Today sees a new development at Leopardstown: a contest for the best-dressed man.
