Fairyhouse preparing for British invasion

HORSE RACING Peter Roe expecting a huge crowd for the Easter Festival

The General Manager of Fairyhouse Racecourse, Peter Roe, has been busy putting the final preparations together for this year's Easter Festival. The Tipperary native took the time to speak to the Meath Chronicle about how those final preparations are going, what the racegoers can expect, and his hopes of matching last year's high attendance numbers, writes Tom Gannon.

"Preparations are going well, we have had a great spell of weather for the last few weeks which made things a lot easier for getting ready. We have been watering the track for the last two weeks and it's in great condition. We are putting the final touches on the parade ring and the marquees and it is all building up to Saturday for the start of the festival." said Roe.

This year, the favourite for the Irish Grand National is Rebecca Curtis' Haiti Couleurs. The Cheltenham Festival winner will be the leading fancy within a group of British raiders hoping to claim glory at the Meath track.

"We are going to have a record number of British horses running at Fairyhouse this weekend which is fantastic for the event. Johnnywho and Haiti Couleurs are confirmed entries for the National. It's going to be a very competitive Irish Grand National and it will take a horse rated 130 to get in."

The feature race on Sunday will be the Willowwarm Gold Cup, while the bumper on Sunday has proven to be a good starting point for talented horses over the last few years.

"The Willowwarm Gold Cup on Sunday could feature the likes of Lecky Watson and Ballyburn. We are hopeful that the George Mernagh Bumper will throw up another star after Kepek Des Bordes last year and Brighterdaysahead the year before."

Last year's three day festival proved to be very successful and Roe is very hopeful that this years renewal will attract as much if not more patrons this year.

"Last year was my first year that we topped 30,000 in attendance and I would be disappointed if we didn't repeat that feat.

“Everything is falling right for us and pointing in the right direction. I would encourage people to go to the website and get their tickets beforehand because that is where the value is."