Athlone native bidding for Cheltenham glory

At this stage, many aspects of the rags to riches story of Skyace are well known. But a new chapter will be written this week when the horse – owned by a syndicate which includes Curraghboy native Cathal McHugh – will race in Cheltenham.

Skyace is set to compete in the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle on Thursday, March 18, with the race due off at 4.15pm.

When he dipped his toes into the world of horse racing, Cathal never thought he’d be involved with a horse running in the Cheltenham racing festival. And although he won’t get there in person this year due to Covid-19 restrictions, it’s still a huge thrill to be a co-owner of a horse competing at the famed Prestbury Park course.

McHugh, currently working and living in Abu Dhabi, is philosophical about the situation. He is acutely aware that missing out on a trip to Cheltenham doesn’t remotely compare to the trauma the Covid-19 pandemic has inflicted on many people’s lives.

“It’s just unfortunate but that’s the way it goes. There’s no point going over because you couldn’t meet up with anyone – there’s a quarantine out here and at home. We have a pub booked in Abu Dhabi and we’re going to watch the race there,” said former St Brigid’s football star Cathal.

“The dream is that we’ll get there next year. If she’s able to perform well this year and if she stays injury free, hopefully this won’t be her only Cheltenham,” he added.

Three members of the six-strong syndicate are based in Abu Dhabi – Donegal native Kieran Breslin and Kevin Crean from Wexford, along with Cathal himself.

The only member of the syndicate who will be in Cheltenham is John ‘Shark’ Hanlon, the trainer of the horse. The other members of the syndicate are Mick Delaney from Dublin and Wexford native Kerill Sutton.

Hanlon previously had a second place in Cheltenham when Hidden Cyclone finished behind a horse called Dynaste in the Grade 1 Ryanair Chase (2014). “It would be a fairy-tale story if everything works out for ‘Shark’ in Cheltenham this year,” said Cathal.

For many in the National Hunt game, the Cheltenham festival represents the pinnacle of their ambitions.

“Coming from a footballing background, the dream there would be to win an All-Ireland with your club or to play for Roscommon and to win stuff with Roscommon. When you get into horse racing, Cheltenham is like getting to the All-Ireland final and if you were to win there, it would be like winning Sam Maguire. It’s the pinnacle in terms of horse racing,” Cathal told the Westmeath Independent.

The jockey will be once again Jody McGarvey, having steered Skyace to victory on four previous occasions. “We’re very happy with Jody and the horse gets on very well with him,” said Cathal.

As for Skyace’s prospects in Cheltenham, Cathal feels an each way punt could yield rewards. “We think she’s being underestimated. I know anything can happen and it will be her first time to go over to England to race. We’ll have to see how she takes to travelling but she has definitely improved since her last race.”

Although Cathal feels the race distance of just over two miles is “a bit short of her best distance”, he hopes “the hill element” on the course will allow Skyace’s stamina to come to the fore.

“We’re not expecting to win but we would be over the moon to come in the top five,” adding that such a placing would put Skyace in the frame for “some top races down the line”.

“If everything goes well, she’ll be running again in Fairyhouse three weeks later in a Group 1 race,” said Cathal, whose father Peter is a keen racing fan.

“She’s a valuable mare in terms of breeding. We got good value for our £600,” he added with considerable understatement.

Another local connection to Cheltenham this year is Flooring Porter which runs in the Stayers’ Hurdle (formerly known as the World Hurdle) on the same day as Skyace’s race. “The owners are from Padraig Pearses and I’d like to wish them all the best with the horse in their race. Their horse is a real gem. We’ll be cheering for them from Abu Dhabi,” Cathal said.

Cathal teaches business and social studies in Abu Dhabi, where he says Covid-19 restrictions have generally been stricter than in Dubai, another of the seven emirates of the UAE. At present, however, he said people in Abu Dhabi are living “a pretty normal life”. He said: “We are teaching online and stuff like that, but we can go to bars and I’m back training a team out here.”

The team Cathal refers to is the Na Fianna Gaelic football team. “We have over 70 players playing and we have mixed ability teams. Na Fianna are a huge club out here and there is big interest in football.”

Westmeath native Kevin Tormey (twin brother of Moate CS teacher Peter) is also involved, while Trevor Buckley from Offaly is chairman of the club. Senan Kilbride, a former colleague of Cathal with St Brigid’s, and Roscommon Gaels duo Cian Connolly and Scott Oates also play with the club. Other lads involved from the local area include Eoin Fleming from Castledaly (“a good mate of mine”, says Cathal) and James Miley of St Dominic’s.

McHugh has been in the UAE for close to three years and it’s obvious that he’s enjoying the lifestyle, saying there is “no sign of coming home any time son”. Cathal is married to Lanesboro native Aoife Connaughton and they both had a stint teaching at Athlone Community College. Although Lanesboro is close to the Roscommon border, Cathal clarifies that Aoife is from Longford. “I’d say the divorce papers might come out if you mentioned Roscommon!” he quipped.

Victor’s bar and restaurant in Abu Dhabi (operating at 50 per cent capacity because of Covid restrictions) is where Cathal and co will watch the action from Cheltenham unfold.

“The pub is booked out and they’ll be showing all the races live. To be honest it’s the talk of the place out here. It’s so unusual for fellas like us to have a horse going to Cheltenham. We’re all involved in the Na Fianna club as well and everyone is talking about it,” said Cathal.

As to whether he’s still playing football himself, Cathal’s answer is definitive. “No, I currently don’t own a pair of boots. Those days are over unfortunately,” he said.

“Football gave me some great days but it’s time to give back in other ways like coaching and it’s something I’d like to do when I go home. You get great enjoyment out of doing something like that,” added Cathal, who was involved with coaching St Brigid’s underage teams when back home.

Cathal’s working week is from Sunday to Thursday, but he has a half-day booked off for March 18. With the race on at 8.15pm UAE time, Cathal and a few friends plan to play a round of golf as they prepare for Cheltenham.

“A load of mates are coming down from Dubai including Darragh Donnelly,” said Cathal, joint captain along with Darragh when St Brigid’s won the Roscommon SFC in 2016.

“We’re just going to relax and take it all in and then we’ll tip into Victor’s to watch the race. We have a whole weekend to go at it if she wins,” he added with a laugh.

See HERE for a previous article on Skyace.