2006 HRI Awards:The Cheltenham Gold Cup hero War Of Attrition was crowned Ireland's "Horse Of The Year" yesterday but his owner, the Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary, declared afterwards he doesn't believe the star chaser will successfully defend his Gold Cup crown next March.
O'Leary, along with War Of Attrition's trainer "Mouse" Morris and jockey Conor O'Dwyer, accepted the Horse Racing Ireland award in Dublin from the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, John O'Donoghue, who described 2006 as "a golden era of unprecedented success in Irish racing".
Other HRI award winners were Ruby Walsh who picked up the National Hunt award and his fellow champion jockey Declan McDonogh who flew in from Hong Kong to accept the flat prize. But it was War Of Attrition who beat off Brave Inca, George Washington, Teofilo, Dylan Thomas and Newmill for the Horse Of Year Award.
O'Leary described 2006 as "the year of years" but downplayed his horse's chances of a Gold Cup follow up. "Statistically, it looks like horses win back to back about every 35 years and we've just had one (Best Mate) who won three in a row," he said. "I don't think he'll win it again but it was a thrill of a lifetime to win it once."
O'Leary also revealed that last March he believed War Of Attrition would run in the race he sponsors at Cheltenham, the Ryanair Chase, up to just 48 hours before the Gold Cup. "It was only on the Wednesday when Mouse and Conor came to me and said we should run in the Gold Cup," he said. "I thought they were mad. I felt he was only seven and he should wait a year. But they were proved right. Conor was at the height of his powers and Mouse, when he is not smoking Major, is a uniquely talented trainer!"
War Of Attrition remains second favourite for the Gold Cup behind the top English chaser Kauto Star whose jockey Walsh picked up the National Hunt award for the third year running. Walsh landed his fourth jockeys' championship in Ireland last season and was the leading rider at Cheltenham. But it's Kauto Star the Kildare rider was most excited about yesterday. "I'm probably the only one here who hopes the Gold Cup stays in England," he joked. "The horse has done nothing wrong and he reminds me a lot of Florida Pearl."
McDonogh arrived back from the Hong Kong International races in time to collect his flat award as the first-time champion rider beat off opposition from his fellow rider Kevin Manning and trainers Dermot Weld, Aidan O'Brien and Jim Bolger.
"I had 11 hours sleep on the plane so I'm feeling okay," said the jockey who rode 89 winners in Ireland last year, including the inaugural Shelbourne Hotel Goffs Million at the Curragh on Miss Beatrix.
McDonogh's main employer, Kevin Prendergast, received a "Contribution to the Industry Award" and the "Outstanding Achievement Award" went to Niall "Slippers" Madden who won the Aintree Grand National at his first attempt on board Numbersixvalverde. The point-to-point award was picked up by the winningmost point to point rider John Thomas McNamara. Minister O'Donoghue said: "With significant capital developments underway at Navan, Dundalk, Galway and the Curragh, we have much to look forward to in 2007".
n There will be a 7.30 morning inspection at Downpatrick tomorrow to see if the scheduled card can go ahead. Already the chase course has been found to be unraceable and the remaining races will be divided to make a six-race card.
Horse Of The Year.....War Of Attrition
National HuntRuby Walsh
Flat Declan McDonogh
Point to Point..John Thomas McNamara
Outstanding Achievement
Niall "Slippers" Madden
Contribution to the Industry
.......................Kevin Prendergast
