Over the Fences at Fairyhonse 



they come in pretty quick succession. They don't give 

 much time to indulge in a chatty commentary. Now, 

 we're out on the racecourse proper. We swing right- 

 handed here. These three fences in front are the only 

 ones we have to jump twice in the whole course. That 

 grey of yours is jumping like a stag. He came over 

 that last fence on to the straight like a champion. 



Hey, don't be admiring the desolation of the empty 

 stands. Hold your grey together and send him like 

 fury at this big drop. The take-off hedge looks innocent, 

 but there's a regular ante-room to Glasnevin cemetery 

 behind it, and a drop that will rattle the teeth in your 

 head. 



Until a few years ago there were honest-to-goodness 

 open ditches in front of us now, but they have been 

 replaced by bush fences. The going is level here for 

 a bit, but then we start the uphill work, on to what 

 used to be the Ballyhack Double. There it is, away 

 above on the very horizon. It's a Double no longer. 

 It's a Regulation now. 



I wish to goodness it was still a Double; this mare 

 is beginning to tire a little. At the end of a long uphill 

 pull one could scramble across a Double but one can't 

 take such liberties with a Regulation. Go on ahead 

 with your grey and give me a lead, this mare's getting 

 nervous. Hang those cigarettes, anyway. I haven't as 

 much wind as would blow out a candle. Candles, in 

 the long ago used to be snuffed out. I have a feeling 

 something else will be snuffed out at this Regulation. 

 This mare will hit it at the roots. She's shortening her 

 stride, five lengths, four, three . . . crash ! The Grey's 



in 



