Local sponsors team up with Navan racecourse for Fortria Chase and Lismullen Hurdle
Kells businesses and Navan bar support televised race day
The first highlight of Navan Racecourse’s jump season takes place on Sunday 13th November with the running of the Fortria Chase and Lismullen Hurdle, both of whom will have new and local sponsors on a card that will be broadcast live on RTÉ television and Racing TV.
The Grade 2 Sean P Muldoon & Patrick F Gormley Fortria Chase will be sponsored by two local businesses, Sean P Muldoon & Company, Chartered Accountants and the Gormley Pharmacy. Both are long established family-owned businesses based in Kells and are partnering with the racecourse in a race steeped with history having been won by the likes of Moscow Flyer, Big Zeb and Flemenstar over the years.
Meanwhile the other Grade 2 on the racecard sees John Breslin’s Railway Bar in Navan sponsor the Railway Bar Lismullen Hurdle. The Railway Bar Lismullen Hurdle regularly features Ireland’s top staying hurdle performers and the race has already been identified by local trainer Gavin Cromwell as the target for last season’s Champion Staying Hurdler, Flooring Porter. The Railway Bar has quickly become one of the most popular bars in the area for racegoers. The bar’s owner John Breslin is a well-known and successful racehorse owner with a recent highlight including the Galway Hurdle winner Tudor City.
Brendan Muldoon, partner of Sean P Muldoon & Company, Chartered Accountants, and David Gormley, proprietor of Gormley Pharmacy, said: “We are delighted to partner with Navan Racecourse and sponsor the Fortria Chase on what is one of the big day’s racings at the track. We and our families have a long involvement with Navan Racecourse having been racecourse members over the years and it will be very special to be able to bring our families together as a tribute to Sean and Pat while also showcasing our local businesses to the county and beyond”.
John Breslin of Mercantile Group, owners of The Railway Bar said: “Given our location on 3 Railway Street in Navan Town, teaming up with the racecourse makes sense for us and as someone who loves his jump racing I am looking forward to what should be a great day’s racing. I have been lucky enough to have had some great days as a winning owner, including earlier this year at Navan Racecourse, so it is exciting to be involved on the day as a sponsor and hopefully plenty of the racegoers will head back to The Railway Bar after racing!”
Aidan McGarry, general manager of Navan Racecourse, commented: “We are delighted and thankful to have John, Brendan and David partner with us at the racecourse and particularly so given that The Railway Bar, Sean P Muldoon & Company, Chartered Accountants and Gormley Pharmacy are all established local Meath-based businesses. Fortria Chase and Lismullen Hurdle Day is always one of our winter highlights and this year with any number of high-class horses, running plus lots of family activities, Sunday 13th November should be another great day”.