Punchestown Festival: Ex-Garda scoops Best Dressed award thanks to help from ‘little sidekick' daughter
The former Garda wowed judges with a black and white polka dot number.
4
Genevieve Ryan's black top was beautifully contrasted by the sunny weather
Credit: Sportsfile
4
Alongside another racegoer in Lisa Walsh from Meath
Credit: Sportsfile
4
Marine Nationale stormed to victory in the day's big race
4
It was a slight upset for jockey Sean Flanagan and trainer Barry Connell as Willie Mullins' star Fact to File had been expected to win
Speaking to
Furthermore, daughter Lily-Mae showcased some outside the box thinking by cutely suggesting that her mam top it all off by accessorising with her teddy bear.
Genevieve recalled how her little girl noticed the teddy fit the colour scheme perfectly, saying: "I had the skirt and hat, but I was looking for a polka dot fabric.
"So I bought one myself, which I had originally planned on using, and then my three-year-old girl said, 'No, Mommy, this is the same, use this!'"
Read More On Irish Sport
"I'm thrilled that she has a part to play in it because she's my little sidekick and we do everything together."
Lily-Mae may well have earned herself a day out at the races later in the week with her fashionable insights beyond her years.
A beaming Genevieve added: "I think I'm going to bring her on Friday just to see me up here with the teddy bear's ribbon."
There will be a further three racegoers picked out as the Best Dressed across Wednesday, Thursday and Friday before one of them is crowned the overall winner.
Most read in Horse Racing
As for the eye-catching action on the track throughout day one of the five-day meet?
Well, there was a slight upset in the day's feature race as Marine Nationale took the Champion Chase while favourite Fact to File could only manage fourth.
Watch the terrifying moment Molly-Mae Hague is thrown from her horse in 'traumatising' accident
Winning trainer Barry Connell joked afterwards that people will think "I'm nuts" after magical Marine Nationale turned on the style.
The Co Kildare trainer hailed the eight-year-old as a 'horse of a lifetime' after he easily completed a Festival Champion Chase double.
Marine Nationale
The showdown with Fact To File was a non-event.
The winner of the Ryanair was beaten three out, eventually trailing home in last place.
Sean Flanagan and Marine Nationale were always going best and skipped clear after the last to beat Captain Guinness by seven lengths.
Connell said: 'There is no doubt he's the best two-mile chaser around — and I reckon he will go down as one of the greats."
He then revealed: "I spend a lot of time alone with this horse in his box.
"There is an aura about him. He gives off this energy. You may think I'm nuts but that's what I do and that's what I feel."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Irish Sun
31 minutes ago
- The Irish Sun
Aries weekly horoscope: What your star sign has in store for August 3
OUR much-loved astrologer Meg sadly died in 2023 but her column will be kept alive by her friend and protégé Maggie Innes. Read on to see what's written in the stars for you today. Advertisement Sign up for the Mystic Meg newsletter. Your info will be used in accordance with our ARIES MARCH 21 - APRIL 20 🔵 Read our Advertisement 1 Your Mars self comes to the fore, and you can be more masterful in every situation, especially when it comes to deals or decisions. Maybe everything won't go your way all at once, but you can make a start, and make your mark. If you're in love, a full moon of celebrity influence finds luscious links with a famous couple. Advertisement If you're single, The One wears silver. Most read in Fabulous DESTINY DAYS Need support? Reach out on Tuesday. Advertisement But stand alone on Friday. Sunday works well for sampling fresh fashion colors and styles. Horoscope traits What does your star sign mean for you? - The best and worst characteristics of the head of the zodiac - The traits you need to know for the air sign - What does this star sign mean for your personality? - The key traits for the sign include a keen love of food - The traits to be aware of for the sign with a symbol of twins - The best and worst characteristics of the fire sign - What does the seventh star sign mean for your personality? - The key traits for the sign include an interest in the arts - The traits you need to know for the fire sign - What does this star sign mean for your personality? - The best and worst characteristics of the earth sign - The key traits for the sign include loyalty and kindness LUCKY LINKS A location famous for music. Advertisement Six-letter names. Numbers that link you to 'R'. MARS MOMENTUM No bond, however ambitious or outrageous it may seem, is out of your emotional orbit, as Mars takes strong root in your relationship sector. Advertisement Instead of watching and waiting, or trying the subtle approach, you can be upfront and audacious, and say out loud every desire you've been holding in your heart. If you are honest with yourself, you do know certain connections have become strained these past few weeks. You don't need to end these, but some tough talking, and well-planned steps, could transform them. Your ruler Mars supports you until late September to pioneer this process. Advertisement Read more on the Irish Sun Fabulous is the home of horoscopes, with weekly updates on what's in store for your star sign as well as daily predictions. You can also use our series of guides to find out everything from which star sign to
Irish Daily Mirror
2 hours ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Josh Honohan delighted Shamrock Rovers have hit a big game fixture pile-up
Josh Honohan loves the biggest occasions and so is relishing the jam-packed schedule facing Shamrock Rovers at this vital stage of the season. The Premier Division table-toppers travel to the Brandywell to face third placed Derry City this evening (7pm), then make the trip to Kosovo for Thursday's Europa Conference League third qualifying round first leg against FC Ballkani. Between last Thursday's second qualifying round second leg in Tallaght against St Joseph's and the FAI Cup third round clash with Longford Town on August 17, the Hoops are pencilled in for six games in 18 days. READ MORE: Keith Andrew picks his Brentford captain - and it's good news for Ireland fans READ MORE: Tottenham captain Son Heung-min announces final game for the club "Yes, we'll be busy," he said. "If we do well over the next couple of weeks we'll have the cup, we'll have the league and hopefully have a good European campaign. "That's why you want to come to this club, though. You want to be busy. If you're not busy you're not probably doing well. We're used to it now over the last couple of years and there's a good bit of experience in that dressing room. We'll be ready for it. "It's just more focus on one game at a time. Derry are up towards the top of the table, they're a really good team, they're always challenging. They don't just have a really good team, they have a really good squad. Josh Honohan at Ireland training in June (Image: ©INPHO/Ryan Byrne) "Sunday's a big game but it's the same aim - whatever game we play we go out there to get three points and there'll be no difference on that." Honohan's performances last season as Rovers made history by becoming the first Irish side to qualify for the knock-out stages of a European tournament earned him an Ireland squad call-up. The 24-year-old is hungry for Stephen Bradley's side to get back to the big stage. "You want to do that as a footballer," he said. "It's a big reason why I wanted to come here. It's an opportunity that we'll hopefully get. Obviously, we'll have a couple of rounds to win to get to that stage that we did last year. "That's a big reason why you want to play when you're younger, to go to Vienna, to go to Sparta Prague, to go to Chelsea - those experiences are really, really positive. I'll probably reflect on it more when my career is finished. "Every game is a big game but obviously the European games are big games, we're playing against top opposition. I want to do well in every game that I play. "The European games, they're really good teams and if we do well in the next couple of games we'll be playing against some top opposition like we did last year. I set a standard and it's up to me to meet that standard, no matter what game it is." Bradley made a host of changes for the second leg against St Joseph's on Thursday after the Hoops cantered to a 4-0 victory in Gibraltar. Honohan insists that the stalemate at home won't affect his team's momentum. Josh Honohan (Image: ©INPHO/Ryan Byrne) "It's probably just one of those games where sometimes we were just looking for that goal," he said. "I definitely thought we were a much better team on the night. It will be full focus on Sunday. "It was actually a tough enough game. A good bit of credit has to go to them, they dug in and they defended really well. The main aim before the tie started was to go through and we've done that." On a lighter note, he is delighted that another Corkman has been added to the house he is sharing with Rory Gaffney, Lee Grace, John McGovern, Matt Healy and Ed McGinty. Even more so because the new arrival is his 19-year-old brother, Callum. "Yeah, it's good now," he smiled. "We haven't been fighting too much! I told him to bring up the PlayStation, so we're not fighting. "He's settled in really well. I'm full of faith that he'll be a really big player for the club in the future. He's a really good player now but he's got a lot of potential. That's a big reason why he came up here, to fulfil that potential." Get the latest sports headlines straight to your inbox by signing up for free email .
Irish Daily Mirror
2 hours ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Kelsey Leonard lands second-round stoppage win in first professional fight
Kelsey Leonard landed a second-round stoppage victory in her first professional fight in Belfast on Saturday night. The Naas native faced English fighter Kira Carter at Girdwood Community Hub in Belfast with several Irish boxers on the card. The 26-year-old stepped back into the ring following defeat to Michaela Walsh at the National Elite Competition in June, but it didn't take long for her to snatch a first professional win. READ MORE:Ireland warm up for Rugby World Cup with comeback win in Cork READ MORE: Madie Gibson stars as impressive Athlone Town progress in Champions League It was an assured performance from the off as Leonard applied early pressure and was constantly on the front foot in the first of four planned rounds. She landed a couple of good body shots and was well in control before round two brought an early end to the fight as a strike knocked Carter to the ground, and after being checked by the referee, the white towel came in from Carter's team. The Kildare boxer spoke to TG4 after the win: 'Really happy. Excited the journey has finally started, it was a bit cagey in the first round, just trying to get a feel of everything. It was very different, so I'm happy with it.' She added: 'I'm happy with the outcome, Kira is a good opponent, so, I did have those nerves coming in, she has a lot of good wins in her career, she hadn't been stopped many times either, it was a tough opponent but, once I trusted in myself and put the pressure (it came off).' Asked what she wants next, Leonard said: 'I want to get used to the professional scene as much as I can, get as many fights as I can and work my way up this year and see where it goes.' 'That would be the ideal slot,' Leonard said when asked about fighting on Michael Conlan's undercard later this year. 'We've had that vision, so, hopefully after that performance, I'll be looking towards that.' Get the latest sports headlines straight to your inbox by signing up for free email .
