Niall Horan at Kilbeggan Races on Friday last with course manager Paddy Dunican

At one point during Kilbeggan Races last Friday there were screams echoing through the stand, and they weren't for big winners or fancied runners falling at the final fence...

They were from young ladies who had just heard that Niall Horan of One Direction was in the stand.

It was certainly a highlight of the bank holiday meeting for many.

Niall enjoyed the evening at Kilbeggan with his friends, and proved a shrewd punter for charity as a €100 bet for LARCC cancer support centre was successful when Willie Mullins' horse Zuzka galloped home alone in the last race.

It is unusual for Kilbeggan to have two meetings within a week but next Saturday May 12 is the first Saturday meeting of the year (at 5.25pm).

The seven-race card will have two feature events, the FBD Insurance Hurdle of €19,000 over three miles and the Belvedere House, Gardens, and Park Handicap Chase of €16,000 sponsored by Westmeath County Council.