It is on to Day 3 of the Cheltenham horse racing festival in England and today brings Laois interest to the fore.
The Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle gets underway at 2.10pm and a Laois owned horse is in the field.
The 24 runner field is headed by Salvador Ziggy who is the highest rated horse in the field.
He is owned by a husband and wife duo from Vicarstown – Liam and Aisling Hurley.
The pair not only own the horse – but they also bred him at home too.
Liam owns Teamwoodcraft which is a architectural joinery business based in Ballybrittas.
While Aisling is the founder of The Business Fairy Digital Marketing Agency which is also based out of Ballybrittas.
Gordon Elliott won the Pertemps three years on the bounce between 2018 and 2020 – and he trains Salvador Ziggy.
The horse qualified for this event by finishing fourth at a race at Cheltenham back in October.
Previous course experience can be a vital factor at the Festival and the top-weight, who is four from five since joining Elliott, has gone from strength to strength as his stamina has been put to the test.
Crucially, Salvador Ziggy is ridden by Aidan Kelly who will use his seven pound claim to reduce the weight.
Speaking ahead of the race, Liam and Aisling said that they are just thrilled to be there.
They said: “We got into horses as our daughters were involved in ponies.
“So then we ended up breeding Salvador Ziggy and he has already won four times which is incredible.
“He is made to go chasing so whatever happens today, we are excited for the fun we will have in the future with him.
“We are just so lucky and privileged to be in Cheltenham and there is great excitement both here and at home.”
The rain that has fallen in Cheltenham has made the ground soft and it remains to be seen how the horse can handle this.
He does have minor bumper form on soft, but all of his wins under Gordon Elliott have come on good ground.
Regardless, all Laois eyes will be on Cheltenham this afternoon where we will be hoping for a winner.
