JANUARY
THE last time I flew Ryanair, after being forced to repack my tiny case three times and pay a £70 “surcharge” at the departure gate, I vowed that I would never set foot in Stansted airport or spend a penny flying Ryanair again.
So imagine my surprise when I found myself, last September, £66,000 knee-deep into purchasing a beautiful 10-year-old chestnut steeplechaser, Idas Boy, from Mr Ryanair himself, Michael O’Leary, via his Gigginstown House Stud in Co Westmeath.
EXCITING TIMES
WE are the Dozen Dreamers syndicate of 12 steeplechasing fanatics, mad enough to think that our absurd dream of buying a horse, and keeping it fit enough, to enter April’s legendary Randox Grand National at Aintree could actually come true.
“You bought an old chestnut?” one of my dearest,…